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mil 

£  lis 


Hi 


1-25  11.4 


I 


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1.8 


1.6 


Photographic 

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Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  S72-4S03 


iV 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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The 
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ofx\ 
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or  ill 


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10X 

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18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ire 

details 
es  du 
modifier 
ler  une 
filmage 


6es 


re 


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La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Cnnada 

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filmage. 

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dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  !e  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m4thode. 


y  errata 
>d  to 

nt 

ne  pelure, 

iqon  d 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

.      4 

5 

6 

THB 


,^0 


*  >' 


■     '5b 

CAPTIVITY  AMD  DELIVERANCE 


.    «     .     ; 


r->V;. 


Of 


Mrs.  Af^ifT  ROWLANDSON, 


•    ■».■  ■■)! 


OF  LANCASTER, 


/ 


<  > 


■ 


••   r    • 


WHO  WAS  TAKEN  BY  THE  FREMCB  AND  INDIANS* 


WRITTEN  BY  HERSELF. 


.';i 


i 

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f  I 


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0: 


,    .  Brook  FTELD, 

Printed  by  HORI  BROWN, 
Prom  the  press  of  e.  merriam  &  C(k 


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♦.  V.       .:-/ 


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%  i«.-i'«)i„r*'»' 


.  s^.     -.  * 


U-^i* 


ff-'jNfe- 


-*  't: 


:r 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVEUANCE 


\ 


OF 


\ 


MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


I 


ON  the  tenth  of  February  came 
the  Indians  with  great  numbers  upon  Lan« 
x:aster  :  Their  first  coming  was  about  sun- 
rise; hearing  the  noise  of  some  guns,  we 
looked  out  ;  several  houses  were  burning, 
and  the  smoke  ascending  to  Heaven.  There 
were  five  persons  taken  in  one  house,  the 
father,  and  the  mother,  and  one  sucking 
child  they  knocked  on  the  head  ;  the  other 
two  they  took  and  carried  away,  and  there 
were  two  others,  who  being  out  of  the  gar- 
rison upon  some  occasion,  were  set  upon, 
one  was  knocked  on  the  heac,  Ifce  other  es- 
caped,  another  there  was  who  running  along 
was  shot  and  wounded,  and  fell  down  j  he 
begged  of  them  his  life,  promising  them 
money,  (as  they  told  me)  but  they  would 
not  hearken  to  him,  but  knocked  him  in 
head,  striped  him  naked,  and  spUt  open  bis 
bowels.  Another  seeing  many  of  the  Indians 
about  h^s  barn,  ventured  and  went  out,  but 
was  quickly  shot  down.    There  were  three 


i.'l  n 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


I     i> 


» 

Others  belonging  to  the  same  garrison  who 
were  killed  ;  the  Indians  getting  tip  upon 
the  roof  of  the  barn,  had  advantage  to  shoot 
dovn  upon  them  over  their  fortiiication* 
Thus  these  murderous  wretches  went  on 
burning  and  destroying  before  them. 

At  length  they  came  and  beset  our  own 
house,  and  quickly  it  was  the  dolefullest  day 
that  ever  mine  eyes  saw.  The  house  stood 
upon  the  edge  of  a  hill ;  some  of  the  Indians 
got  behind  the  hill,  others  in  the  barn,  and 
t;thers  behind  any  thing  that  would  shelter 
them  ;  from  all  which  places  they  shot  a- 
gainst  the  house,  so  that  the  bullets  seemed 
toHy  like  hail  ;  and  quickly  they  wounded 
pne  man  among  us,  then  another,  and  then 
a  third.  About  two  hours  (according  to  my 
observation  in  that  amazing  time)  they  had 
Hbeen  about  the  house  before  they  prevailed 
to  fire  it,  (which  they  did  with  flax  and 
hemp  which  they  brought  out  of  the  barn, 
and  there  being  no  defence  about  the  house, 
only  two  Sciiii^crs  at  two  opposite  corners, 
and  one  of  tfcerh  not  finished)  they  fired  it 
once  and  one  ventiired  out  and  quenched  it, 
but  they  quickly  fired  it  again,  and  that 
took.  Now  is  that  dreadful  hour  come,  that 
Ihave  often  heard  of,  (in  the  time  of  the  v  ar^ 
as  it  was  the  case  of  others)  but  now  n  ine 
eyes  see  it.  Son>e  in  cur  house  were  f  ght- 
ing  for  their  lives,  others  wallowing  it.  their 
blood,  the  house  on  fire  over  our  heads,  and 


^'. 


SrCE 


Of  MARY  ROWLAXDSON. 


^ 


son  who 
up  upon 
to  shoot 
iiication. 
^ent  on 
• 

ir   own 
lest  day 
se  stood 
Indians 
rn,  and 
I  shelter 
shot   a- 
seemed 
ounded 
id  then 
;toniy 
ey  liad 
evailed 
IX   and 
c  barn, 
house, 
orners, 
ired  it 
hed  it, 
id  that 
e,  that 
le  V  ar^ 
'  n  ine 
%ht~ 
i>  their 
'S9  and 


the  bloody  heathen  ready  to  knock  us  on 
the  head  if  we  stirred  out..  Now  might  we 
hear  mothers  and  children  crying  out  for 
themselves,  and  one  another,  Lord  ivbat  shall 
we  do  !  Then  I  took  my  children  (and  one 
of  my  sisters  heirs)  to  go  forth  and  leave  the 
house  :  But  as  soon  as  we  came  to  the  door, 
and  appeared,  the  Indians  shot  so  thick  that 
the  bullets  rattled  against  the  house,  as  if  one 
had  taken  a  handful  of  stones  and  threw 
them  so  that  we  were  forced  to  give  back. 
We  had  six  stout  dogs  belonging  to  our 
garrison,  but  none  of  them  would  stir, 
though  another  time,  if  an  Indian  had  come 
to  the  door,  they  were  ready  to  fly  upon 
him  and  tear  him  down.  The  Lord  hereby 
would  make  us  the  more  to  acknowledge  his 
hand,  and  to  see  that  our  help  is  always  ia 
him*  But  out  we  must  go,  the  fire  increas- 
ing,  and  coming  along  behind  us,  roaring, 
and  the  Indians  gaping  '  before  us  with  their 
guns,  spears,  and  hatchetb  to  devour  us.  No 
sooner  were  we  out  of  the  house,,  but  my 
brother  in  law  (being  before  wounded  in  de- 
fending the  house,  in  or  near  the  throat)  fell 
down  dead,  vhereat  the  Indians  scornfully 
shouted,  and  halloed,  and  were  presently 
upon  him,  stripping  off  his  cloaths*  The 
bullets  flying  thick,  one  went  through  my 
siae,  and  the  same  (as  would  seem)  through 
the  bowels  and  hand  of  my  poor  clxild  in  my 
•arms.     One    of  my    elder  sisters  children 

L 


I   > 


> -I 


,  i,i 


H  CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 

(named  WiUiant)  had  then  his  leg  broke, 
which  the  Indians  perceiving,  they  knocked 
him  on  head.  Thus  were  we  butchered  by 
those  merciless  heathens,  standing  amazed, 
with  the  blood  running  down  to  our  heels. 
My  elder  sister  being  yet  in  the  house,  and 
seeing  those  woful  sights,  the  infidels  hauling 
unothers  one  way,  and  children  another,  and 
some  w^allowing  in  their  blood :  And  her 
eldest  son  telling  her  that  her  son  William 
was  dead,  and  myself  was  wounded,  she  said, 
and  Lord  let  me  die  with  them  :  Which  was 
no  sooner  said,  but  she  was  struck  with  a  bul- 
let, and  fell  down  dead  over  the  threshold, 
I  hope  she  is  reaping  the  fruit  of  her  good 
labors,  being  faithful  to  the  service  of  God  in 
her  place.  In  her  younger  years  she  lay  un- 
der much  trouble  upon  spiritual  accounts, 
till  it  pleased  God  to  make  that  precious 
scripture  take  hold  of  her  heart,  2  Cor,  12,  9. 
And  he  said  unto  me,  7ny  grace  is  stiffieicni  for 
thee.  More  than  twenty  years  after  1  have 
heard  her  tell  how  sweet  and  comfortable  that 
place  was  to  her.  But  to  return  ;  Ihe  In- 
dians  laid  hold  of  us,  pulling  me  one  way, 
and  the  children  another,  and  said,  come 
go  along  with  us.  I  to'id  them  they 
would  kill  jfne  ;  they  answered,  if  I  were 
willing  to  go  along  with  them  they  would 
not  hurt  me. 

Oh  !  the  doleful  sight  that  now  was  tobe- 
Jiold  at  this  house  !  come,  behold  the  works 


( 


V 


e. 


CE 

broke, 

locked 
red  by 

mazed, 
■  heels, 
and 
auling 

r,  and 
1   lier 
William 
said, 

:h  was 
a  bul- 

shoJd. 
good 

»od  in 

jy  un- 

ounts, 

ecious 

12,  9. 

ni  for 
have 

ethat 

e  In- 

way, 

come 
they 
were 
ould 

obe- 
orks 


Of  MAUY  ROWLANDSON       '         f 

of  the  Lord,  what  desolations  he  has  nude 
in  the  earth.  Of  thirty  seven  persons  who 
were  in  this  one  house,  none  escaped  either 
present  death,  or  a  bitter  captivity,  save  on- 
ly one,  who  might  say  as  he,  "Job^  1.15.  And 
J  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  the  news.  There 
were  twelve  killed,  some  shot,  some  stabbed 
with  their  spears,  some  knocked  down  with 
their  hatchets.  When  'we  arc  in  prosperity. 
Oh  the  little  that  we  *think  of  such  dreadful 
sights,  to  see  our  dear  frkuds  and  relations 
lie  bleeding  out  their  heltrs  blood  upon  the 
ground.  1  here  was  one  who  was  chopcd  in- 
to tihe  head  with  a  hatchet,  and  striped  na- 
ked and  yet  w^as  crawling  up  and  down.  It 
is  a  solemn  sight  to  see  so  many  Christians 
lying  in  their  blood,  some  here  and. some 
there,  Hke  a  company  of  sheep  torn  by  wolves. 
All  of  them  striped  naked  by  a  company  of 
hell  hounds,  roaring,  singing,  ranting  and 
insulting,  as  if  tftey  would  have  torn  our 
very  hearts  out ;  yet  the  Lord  by  his  Al- 
mighty Power,  preserved  a  number  of  us 
from  death,  for  there  were  twentyfour  of  us 
taken  alive  and  carried  captive. 

I  had  often  before  this  said,  that  if  the  In- 
dians should  come,  I  should  chuse  rather  to 
be  killed  by  them,  than  taken  alive  :  But 
when  it  came  to  a  trial,  my  mind  changed  ; 
their  glittering  weapons  so  daunted  my  spir- 
it, that  I  chose  rather  to  go  along  with  those 
(as  i  may  say)  ravenous  bears,  than  that  nio^ 


I  >i 


( 


I 

Ij 


%         CAPTIVITY  AKB  DELIVERANCE 

mcnt  to  end  my  days.  And  that  I  may  the 
better  declare  what  happened  to  me  during 
that  grievous  captivity,  I  shall  particularly 
speak  of  the  several  removes  we  had  up  and 
down  the  wilderness. 


''K 


The  first  remove. 

Now  away  we  must  go  with  those  barbar- 
l>us  creatures,  with  our  bodies  wounded  and 
bleeding,  and  our  hearts  no  less  than  our 
bodies.  About  a  mile  we  went  that  night, 
up  upon  a  hill  within  sight  of  the  town, 
where  they  intended  to  lodge*  There  was 
hard  by  a  vacant  house,  deserted  by  the  En- 
glish before,  for  fear  of  the  Indians,  1  asked 
them  whether  I  might  not  lodge  in  that 
houf^e  that  night  ?  to  which  they  answered, 
what  will  you  love  Englishmen  still  ?  This 
was  the  dolefulest  night  that  ever  my  eyes 
saw.  Oh  the  roaring,  singing,  dancing,  and 
yelling  of  those  black  creatures  in  the  night, 
which  made  the  place  a  lively  resemblance 
of  hell  :  And  as  miserable  was  the  waste  that 
%vas  there  made,  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep^ 
swine,  calves,  lambs,  roasting  pigs,  and  fowls, 
(which  they  had  plundered  in  the  town) 
some  roasting,  some  frying  and  burning,  and 
•some  boyling,  to  feed  our  merciless  enemies  j 
who  were  joyful  enough,  though  we  were 
disconsolate.  To  add  to  the  dolefulness  of 
die  former   day,  and  the   dismalness  of  the 


:c 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSOX. 


4« 


lay  the 

during 
iculariy 
up  and 


3arbar- 
edand 
in  our 
night, 
town, 
e  was 
he  En- 

sked 
that 

^'ered, 

'  'i  his 

y  eyes 

^and 

nght, 

Jance 

Jthat 

heep^ 

owls, 

>wn) 

and 

lies ; 

«^ere 

s  of 

the 


present  night,  my  thoughts  ran  upon  my 
losses  and  sad  bereaved  condition.  All  was 
gone,  my  husband  gone,  (at  least  separated 
ironi  me,  he  being  in  the  bay  j  and  to  add  to 
my  grief,  the  Indians  told  me  tliey  would 
kill  him  as  he  came  homeward)  my  children 
gone,,  my  relations  and  friends  gone,  our 
house  and  home,  and  all  our  comforts  with- 
in  door  and  without,  all  was  gone,  (cxccpe 
my  life)  and  1  knew  not  but  the  next  mO" 
ment  that  might  go  too. 

T^iere  remained  nothing  to  me  but  one 
poor  wounded  babe,  and  it  seemed  at  presen'. 
worse  than  death,  that  it  was  in  such  a  piti 
ful  condition,  bespeaking  compassion,  anti  I 
had  no  refreshing  for  it,  nor  suitable  thingi 
to  revive  it.  Little  do  many  think,  what  is 
the  savageness  and  bruitishness  of  this  barbar- 
ous enemy,  even  those  that  seem  to  profjss 
more  than  others  among  them,  when  the  En- 
glish have  fallen  into  their  hands. 

I'hose  seven  that  were  killed  at  Lancaster 
the  summer  before  upon  a  Sabbath  day,  and 
the  one  that  was  afterwards  killed  upon  a 
week  day,  wcie  sLun  and  man^^led  in  a  bar- 
barous manner,  by  one  eyed  John  and  JVJari- 
borough's  praying  Indians,  which  Cvipt, 
iVIjsely  brought  tu  Bostoi!.  an  th^  Indic\o,|^ 
told  me.:  I  •   ••  V*  *,vMr  i 


<i 


•*>,#  f 


L^  Q 


■Ju 


I  . 


I'O: 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


r-,..-k^ 


i->^i. 


;*        ^.tj^ji^!' 


h..-iS. 


■iu^.  A^'.^ 


i#4:.  * 


Tk£    second    REM0V£.  ^'^ 


V.T.. 


But  now  (the  next  morning)  I  must  turn 
my  back  upon  the  town,  and  travel  with 
them  into  the  vast  and  desolate  wilderness,  I 
knovy  now  whither.  It  is  not  my  tongue 
or  pen  can  express  the  sorrows  of  my  hearty 
and  bitterness  of  my  spirit,  that  I  had  at  this 
departure :  But  God  was  with  me  in  a  won- 
derful manner,  carrying  me  along,  and  bean- 
ing  up  my  spirit,  that  it  did  not  quite  fail. 
One  of  the  Indians  carried  my  poor  woundi. 
ed  babe  upon  a  horse  ;  it  went  moaning  all 
along,  I  shall  die,  I  shall  die.  I  went  on  foot 
after  it,  with  sorrow  that  cannot  be  exprest. 
At  length  I  took  it  oif  the  horse,  and  carried 
it  in  my  arms,  till  my  strength  failed,  and  I 
fell  down  with  it;  Then  they  set  me  upon 
ti  horse,  with  my  wounded  child  in  my  lap, 
and  there  being  no  furniture  upon  the  horses 
back,  as  we  were  going  down  a  steep  hill, 
we  both  fell  overthe  horses  head,  at  which 
they  like  inhuman  creatures  laughed,  and 
rejoiced  to  see  it,  though  I  thought  we  should 
there  have  ended  our  days^  as  dVercomc 
with  so  many  difficulties.  But  the  Lord  re« 
newed  my  strength  stilly  and  carried  me  a- 
teng  that  I  might  see  more  of  his  Power,  yea^, 
so  much  that  I  could  never  have  thought  of/ 
kad  I  not  experienced  it* . 


^- 


&. ' 


t  turn 
with 
ness,  I 
ongue 
hearty 
It  this 
worr- 
bearw 
:  fail, 

ng  all 
I  foot 
3rest. 
irried 
md  I 
upon 
lap, 

orses 

hill, 
hich 

and 
ould 
omc 
I  re* 
e  a*  - . 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSOK. 


12 


After  this  it  quickly  began  to  snow,  and 
when  night  can^e  on,  they  sloped  :  And  now 
down  1  nnust  sit  in  the  snow,  by  a  little  fire, 
and  a  few  boughs  behind  me,  with  my  sick 
child  in  my  lap,  and  calling  much  for  water, 
being  now  (through  the  wound)  fallen  into 
a  violent  Fever.  My  own  wound  also  grow- 
ing so  stiff,  that  I  could  scarce  sit  down  or 
rise  up,  yet  so  it  must  be,  that  I  must  sit  all 
this  cold  winter  night,  upon  the  cold  snowy 
ground,  with  my  sick  child  in  my  arma, 
looking  that  every  hour  would  be  the  last  of 
its  life  J  and  having  no  Christian  friend  nea^r 
me,  either  to  comfort  or  help  me.  Oh  I 
may  see  the  wonderful  power  of  God,  that 
my  spirit  did  not  utterly  sink  under  my  af- 
flictions 5  still  the  Lord  upheld  me  with  his 
gracious  and  merciful  spirit,  and  we  were 
both  alive  to  see  the  light  of  the  next  morn- 
ing. 


The  third  remove. 


l,^".      •■><! 


•  The  morning  being  come,  they  prepared 
to  go  on  their  way  :  One  of  the  Indians  g(>t 
up  upon'  a  horse,  and  they  set  me  up  behind 
him^  with  my  poor  sick  babe  in  my  lap.  A 
very  wearisome  and  tedious  day  I  had  of  it  j 
what  with  my  own  woundy  and  my  child 
being  so  exceeding  sick  J  and  in  a  lamentable 
condition  with  her  wound,  it  might  easily  be 
judged   what    a  poor  feeble    condition  we 


% 


1 1 


>' J 


r" 


i.:,i 


mm: 

III-  iif.'t'. 


fi' 


s 

■'.ii: 


i. 


12        CAPTIVITY  AN'D  DELIVERANCE 

were  in,  there  being  ndt  the  least  crumb  o{ 
refreshing  that  came  within  either  of  our 
mouths  from  Wednesday  night  to  Saturday 
night,  except  only  a  little  cold  water.  1  his 
day  in  the  afternoon,  about  an  hour  by  sun, 
we  came  to  the  place  where  they  intended, 
viz.  an  Indian  town  called  Wenimesset; 
northward  of  Quabaug.  When  we  were 
come.  Oh  the  number  of  Pagans  (n»  w  iier- 
ciless  enemies)  that  there  came  about  me^, 
that  I  may  say  as  David,  Psal.  27.  IS.  / bad 
fainted,  unless  I  had  believed,  &c.  The  next 
day  was  the  Sabbath  :  I  then  remembered 
how  careless  1  had  been  of  God's  holy  time  : 
how  many  sabbaths  I  had  lost  and  misspent « 
and  how  evilly  1  had  walked  in  God's  sight  ^ 
which  lay  so  close  upon  my  spirit,  that  it 
was  easier  for  me  to  see  how  righteous  it  was 
with  God  to  cut  off  the  thread  of  my  life^ 
and  cast  me  out  of  his  presence  for  ever. 
Yet  the  Lord  still  shewed  mercy  to  me,  and 
helped  me  ;  and  as  he  wounded  me  with 
one  hand,  so  he  healed  me  with  the  other. 
^\m  day  there  came  to  me  one  Robert  Pep- 
per, (a  man  belonging  to  Roxbury,)  who 
was  taken  atCapt.  Beer's  fight ;  «nd  had 
been  now  a  considerable  time  with  the  In- 
dians, and  lip  with  them  almost  as  far  as  Al- 
bany, to  sec  King  Philip,  as  he  told  me,  and 
was  now  very  lately  come  with  them  into 
these  parts.  Hearing  I  say,  thiit  I  was  in  this 
Indian  town  he  obtained  leave  to,come  and 


iffi 
1 


:e 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON 


U 


mb  of 
>f  our 
turday 
This 
sun, 
°nded, 

were 
uer- 
me;, 

/  /jad 

next 
ibered 
time  : 
spent, 
ight  y 
hat  it 
it  was 
f  life, 
ever, 
vand 
with 
ther. 
Pep. 
who 

had 
£  In- 

Al- 
and 
into 
this 


see  me.  He  told  me  he  himself  was  wound- 
ed in  the  leg  at  Capt.  Beer's  fight ;  and 
was  not  able  sometimes  to  go  but  as  they 
carried  him,  and  that  he  took  oak  leaves  and 
laid  to  his  wound,  and  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  he  was  able  to  travel  again.  Then  I 
took  oak  leaves  and  laid  to  my  side,  and 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  it  cured  me  also  ; 
yet  before  the  cure  was  wrought,  1  may  say 
as  it  is  in  PsaL  S8.  5,  6.  My  wounds  stink  and 
are  corrupt ^  I  am  troubled^  I  am  bowed  down 
greatly,  I  go  mourning  all  the  day  long.  I  sat 
much  alone  with  my  poor  wounded  child 
in  my  lap,  which  moaned  night  and  day, 
having  nothing  to  revive  the  body,  or  cheer 
the  spirits  of  her  ;  but  instead  of  that,  one 
Indian  would  come  and  tell  me  one  hour, 
your  master  will  knock  your  child  on  the 
head,  and  then  a  second,  and  then  a  third, 
your  master  will  quickly  knock  your  child 
on  the  head. 

This  was  the  comfort  I  had  from  therr  ; 
miserable  comforters  were  tliey  all.  Thus 
nine  days  I  sat  upon  my  knees,  with  my 
babe  in  my  lap,  till  my  flesh  was  raw  again. 
My  child  being  even  ready  to  depart  this 
sorrowful  world,  they  bid  me  carry  it  out  to 
another  wigwam  ;  (I  suppose  because  they 
would  not  be  troubled  with  such  spectacles) 
whither  I  went  with  a  very  heavy  heart,  and 
down  I  sat  with  the  picture  of  death  in  my 
lap.     About   two  hours   in  the  night,   my 


m 


ii' 


M 


'  ■) 


14 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


M:    ..    It: 


If  y^^i  I, 

1*1  s 


■  ti 


u. 


sweet  babe  like  a  hmb  departed  this  life,  on 
Feb.  i8.  1675.  it  being  about  six  years  and 
five  months  old.  It  was  nine  days  from  the 
first  wounding,  in  this  miserable  condition, 
without  any  refreshing  of  one  nature  or 
other,  except  a  little  cold  water.  I  cannot 
but  take  notice  how  at  another  time  1  could 
not  bear  to  be  in  the  room  where  any  dead 
person  was,  but  now  the  case  is  changed  ;  I 
must,  and  could  lie  down  by  my  dead  babe 
all  the  night  aftef.  I  have  thought  since  of 
the  wonderful  goodness  of  God  to  me,  in 
preserving  me  so  in  the  use  of  my  reason  and 
senses,  in  that  distressed  time,  that  I  did  not 
use  wicked  and  violent  means  to  end  my 
own  miserable  life.  In  the  morning,  when 
they  understood  that  my  child  was  dead, 
they  sent  for  me  home  to  my  masters  wig- 
wam :  (By  my  master  in  this  writing,  must 
be  understood  Qunnaopin^  who  was  a  sagga- 
more,  and  married  K.  Philip's  wives  sister  ; 
not  that  he  first  took  me,  but  I  was  sold  to 
him  by  a  Narraganset  Indian,  who  took  me 
when  I  first  came  out  of  the  garrison)  I  went 
to  take  up  my  dead  child  in  my  arms  to 
carry  it  with  me,  but  they  bid  me  let  it  a- 
lonc  :  There  was  no  resisting,  but  go  I  n.ust 
and  leave  it.  When  I  had  been  a  while 
at  my  masters  wigwam,  1  took  the  first  op- 
portunity  I  could  get,  to  go  look  after  my 
dead  child  :  When  I  came,  I  asked  theni 
what  they  had  done  with  it  ?  they  told  mt' 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


15 


fe,  on 
rs  and 
m  the 
iition, 
re  or 
annot 
could 
dead 
ed;  I 

babe 
ice  of 
»e,  in 
n  and 
d  not 
i  my 
when 
dead, 

wig. 

must 

ster ; 
►Id  to 
z  me 
^vent 
IS  to 
it  a- 

liUSt 

i^hiie 
:  op- 

my 
lieni 

mv* 


it  was  upon  the  hill  ;  then  they  went  and 
shewed  me  where  it  was,  where  I  saw  the 
ground  was  newly  digged,  and  where  they 
told  me  they  had  buried  it  ;  there  I  left  that 
child  in  the  wilderness,  and,  and  must  com- 
mit it  and  myself  also  in  this  wilderness  con- 
dition, to  him  who  is  above  all.  God  having 
taken  away  this  dear  child,  I  went  to  see  my 
daughter  Mary,  who  was  at  this  same  Indian 
town,  at  a  wigwam  not  very  far  off,  though 
we  had  little  liberty  or  opportunity  to  see 
one  another  ;  she  was  about  ten  years  old, 
and  taken  from  the  door  at  first  by  a  pray- 
ing Indian,  and  afterward  sold  for  a  gun. 
When  1  came  in  sight,  she  would  fall  k.weep« 
ing,  at  which  they  were  provoked,  and 
would  not  let  me  come  near  her,  but  bid  me 
be  gone  ;  which  was  a  heart  cutting  word 
to  me.  I  had  one  child  dead,  another  in  the 
wilderness,  I  knew  not  where,  the  third 
they  would  not  let  me  come  near  to ;  Me 
(as  he  said)  have  ye  berea'ved  of  my  children^ 
Joseph  is  not^  and  Simeon  is  not,  and  ye  will  take 
Benjamin  also,  all  these  things  are  against  me. 
I  could  not  sit  still  in  this  condition,  but 
kept  walking  from  one  place  to  another. 
And  as  I  was  going  along,  my  heart  was  even 
overwhelmed  witfi  the  thoughts  of  my  con- 
dition, and  that  I  should  have  children,  and  a 
nation  that  I  kncv-z  not,  ruled  over  them. 
Whereupon  I  earnestly  intreated  the  Lord 
thu  he  would  consider  my  low  estate,  and 


■M 


*  \% 


I 

! 


16 


CArnVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


..ti'y 


K:*; 


i!f 


lihew    me  a  token  for  good,  and  if  it  were 
his  blessed  will,  some  sign  and  hope  of  some 
relief.     And    indeed    quickly    the  Lord  an- 
swered, in  some  measure,  my  poor  prayer : 
For  as   I  was  going  up  and  down  mourning 
arid   lamenting  my  condition,  my  son  came 
to  me,  and  asked  me  how  I  did  ?  I  had  not 
seen  him  before,  since  the  destruction  of  the 
town  ;  and  1  knew  not  where  he  was,  till  I 
J.  was  informed  by    himself,    that  he  was    a- 
mongst  a    smaller  parcel  of  Indians,  whose 
place  was  about  six  miles  off,  with  tears  in 
his  eyes,  he  asked  me  whether  his  sister  Sa- 
rah was  dead  ?  and  told  me  he  had  seen  his 
sister  (fary  j  and  prayed  me,  that  I  would 
not   be   troubled    in    reference  to    himself. 
The  occasion  of  his  coming  to  see  me  at  this 
time  was  this  :  There   was,  as  I  said,  about 
six  miles  from  us,    a  small  plantation  of  In- 
diana, where   it  seems   he  had  been,  during 
his  captivity  ;  and  at  this  time,  there  were 
some  forces    of  the  Indians  gathered  out  of 
our  company,  and  some  also  from  them,  (a- 
xnongst  whom  was  my  sons  rriaster)  to  go 
to  assault    and  burn   Mcdfield  :  In   this  time 
of    his  masters   absence,  his  dame  brought 
him  to  see  me.     1  took  this  to  be  some  gra- 
cious answer  to  my  earnest  and  unfeigned 
desire.     The  next  day  the  Indians  returned 
from  Mcdfield  :  (all  the  company,  for  those 
that  belonged  to  the  other  smaller  company, 
came  through  the  town  that  now  we  were 


II 


^1 

t] 


ftjit,. 


■m 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


ir 


''ere 
ime 
an- 
er: 
ling 

lame 
not 
the 

:illl 
a. 

Lose 


at)  but  before  they  came  to  us,  oh  the  out- 
rageous roaring  and  hooping  that  there 
was  !  they  began  their  din  about  a  mile  be- 
fore they  came  to  us.  By  their  noise  and 
hooping  they  signified  how  many  they  had 
destroyed  (which  was  at  that  time  twenty 
three)  those  that  were  with  us  at  home, 
were  gathered  together  as  soon  as  they  heard 
the  hoC/ping,  and  every  time  that  the  other 
went  over  their  number,  these  at  home  gave 
a  shout,  that  the  very  earth  rang  again- 
And  thus  they  continued  till  those  that  had 
been  upon  the  expedition  were  come  up  v  > 
the  Saggamor's  Vv^igwam  ;  and  then, ^i  the 
hideous,  insulting  and  triumphing  ths^piere 
was  over  some  English  mens  scalps,  that  they 
had  taken  (as  their  manner  is)  and  brought 
with  them.  I  cannot  but  take  notice  of  the 
wonderful  mercy  of  God  to  me  in  those  af- 
flictions, in  sending  me  a  bible  :  One  of  the 
Indians  that  came  from  Medfield  fight,  and 
had  brought  some  plunder,  camiC  to  me,  and 
asked  me  'f  I  would  have  a  bible,  he  had  got 
one  in  his  basket,  I  was  glad  of  it,  and  asked 
him  ir'  he  thought  the  Indians  would  let  me 
tead  i^  he  answered  yes  ?  so  i  took  the  bible, 
and  ia  that  melancholy  time  it  came  into  rny 
mind  to  read  first  the  28th,  Chap,  of  Deute- 
ronomy^  which  I  did,  and  when  1  had  read  it, 
my  daik  heart  wrought  on  this  man- 
ner, that  there  vt'as  no  mercy  for  me,  that 
the    blessings  v^^ere  gone,    and  the    curses 


^< 


'■r  t>"[ 


'( 


Ik'. 


'    \ 


t/:. 


_j. 


i 


't 


t 

1 


.r':t 


'•-■I  '(  ' 
i.  'I  '  • 


^8 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELlVi:UANCE 


i!  '        ,  '  '  ■  '! 


'!ui' 


ano 
nin 


caine  in  their  room,  and  that  I  had  lost  my 
opportunity.  But  the  Lord  helped  ine  still 
to  go  on  reading,  till  I  came  to  chap.  ,TO,  the 
seven  first  verses  ;  where  1  found  there  was 
mercy  promised  again,  if  wc  would  return 
to  him,  by  repentance  ;  and  though  we  were 
scattered  from  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the 
other,  yet  the  Lord  would  gather  us  togeth- 
'U',  and  turn  all  those  curses  upon  our  ene- 
jnises.  I  do  not  desire  to  live  to  forget  this 
jicripture,  and  what  comfort  it  was  to  me. 

Novi^  the  Indians  began  to  talk  of  remov. 
i    ;  from  this  place,  some  one  way,  and  some 

*r.  There  were  now  besides  myself 
nglish  captives  in  this  place,  (all  of 
them  children  except  one  woman)  I  got  an 
opportunity  to  go  and  take  my  leave  of 
them  ;  they  being  to  go  one  way,  and  I  an- 
other. I  asked  them  whether  they  were 
earnest  with  God  for  deliverance*  they  all 
told  me  they  did  as  they  were  able,  and  it 
xv^s  some  comfort  to  me,  that  the  Lord  stir- 
red up  children  to  look  to  him.  The  wom- 
an, viz.  good  wife  Josiin,  told  me,  she  should 
never  see  me  again,  and  that  she  could  find 
in  her  heart  to  run  away  :  I  desired  her  not 
to  run  away  by  any  means,  for  we  were  near 
thirty  n;iles  from  any  English  town,  and  she 
very  big  with  child,  having  but  one  week  to 
reckon  ;  and  another  child  in  her  arms  two 
years  old,  and  bad  rivers  there  were  to  go 
over,  and  yvc  vi  ^jre  feeble  with  our  poor  and 


I 


t    my 

e  still 
0.  the 

!e  was 

eturn 

were 

to  the 

[ogeth. 

r  ene- 

ct  this 

me, 

emov- 

I  some 
myself 

all  of 
5ot:  an 

ve  of 
d  I  an- 
^  were 
ley  all 
md  it 
d  stir* 

worn- 
jhould 
d  find 
er  not 
e  near 
nd  she 
eekto 
IS  two 
to  go 
:^rand 


Of  MAR\   UOWLANDSON. 


19 


coarse  entertainment.  I  had  my  bible  with 
me,  1  pulled  it  out,  and  asked  her  whether  she 
'would  read;  we  opened  the  bible,  and  lighted 
on  Psal,  27.  in  which  psalm  wg  especially 
took  notice  ol  that  verse,  Wait  on  the  Lord,  be 
of  good  courage,  and  he  shall  strengthen  thine 
hcari^  IV ait  I  say  on  the  Lord*     '  ^*'' 

The  fourth  remove. 


And  now  must  I  part  with  that  Httl 
company  that  I  had.  Here  I  parted  fVoni 
my  daughter  Mary,  (whom  I  never  saw  a- 
gain  till  I  saw  her  in  Dorchester,  rj|yrned 
from  captivity)  and  from  four  littlel^usins 
and  neighbors,  some  of  which  I  never  saw^ 
afterward,  the  Lord  only  knows  the  end  of 
them.  Among  them  also  was  that  poor  wo- 
man before  mentioned,  who  came  to  a  sad 
end,  as  some  of  the  company  told  me  in  my 
travel  :  She  having  much  grief  upon  her 
Spirits,  about  her  miserable  condiuon,  being 
so  near  her  time,  she  would  be  often  asking 
the  Indians  to  let  her  gb  home  ;  they  not  be- 
ing willing  to  that,  and  yet  vexed  with  her 
importunity,  gathered  a  great  company  to- 
gether about  her,  and  striped  her  naked,  and 
set  her  in  the  midst  of  them  ;  and  when 
they  had  sung  and  danced  about  her  (in  their 
hellish  manner)  as  long  a«  they  pleased,  they 
knocked  her  on  the  head,  and  the  child  in 
her  arms  with  her  :  When  they  had  donf. 


VM 


\  . 


'!      ! 


i 


n 


.  1 


20 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


that,  they  made  a  fire  and  put  them  both  iw- 
to  it,  and  told  the  other  children  that  were 
with  them,  that  if  they  attempted  to  go 
home,  they  would  serve  them  in  like  man- 
ner. The  children  said  she  did  not  shed  one 
tear,  but  prayed  all  the  while.  But  to  return 
to  my  own  journey  :  We  travelled  about 
half  a  day  or  a  little  more,  and  came  to  a  des- 
olate place  in  the  wilderness,  where  there 
wTre  no  wigwams  or  inhabitants  before  : 
We  came  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
to  this  place;  cold^wet,  snowy,  hungry,  and 
weary,  and  no  refreshing  (for  man)  but  the 
cold  ||Dund  to  sit  on,  and  our  poor  Indian 

Heart  acheing  thoughts  here  I  had  about 
my  poor  children,  who  were  scattered  up  and 
down  among  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  : 
My  head  was  light  and  dissy,  (either  through 
hunger  or  hard  lodging,  or  trouble,  or  alto- 
gether) my  knees  feeble,  my  body  raw  by 
sit  ing  double  night  and  day,  that  1  cannot 
express  to  man,  the  affliction  that  lay  upon 
my  spirit,  but  the  Lord  helped  me  at  that 
time  to  express  it  to  himself.  I  opened  my 
bible  to  read,  and  the  Lord  brought  that 
precious  scripture  to  me,  ^er,  31.  J  6.  Thm 
saiib  the  Lordy  refrain  ihy  voice  from  zveeping, 
a7id  thine  eyes  from  iears^for  thy  work  shall  be 
rewarded^  and  they  shall  come  again  from  the 
landoftheeneviy.  This  was  a  sweet  cordial 
to  me,  when  Iwas  ready  tofaintj  many   and 


E 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


SI 


|th  in- 
were 
|o   go 
man- 
one 
eturn 
bout 
la  des- 
there 
ore  : 
nOon 
5  and 
t  the 
idian 

bout 
pand 

rest  : 

3Ugh 

alto* 
V  by 

nnot 
ipon 
that 
my 
that 

ing, 
'I  be 
the 

md 


r 

many  a  time  have  I  sat  down,  and  wept 
sweetly  over  this  scripture.  At  this  place 
we  continued  about  four  days. 

The  fifth  remove. 

The  occasion  (as  I  thought)  of  their  mov- 
ing at  this  time,  was  the  English  Army's  be- 
ing near  and  following  them  ;  For  they  went 
as  if  they  had  gone  for  their  livei,  for  some 
considerable  way  ;  and  then  they  made  a 
stop,  and  chose  out  some  of  their  stoutest 
men,  and  sent  them  back  to  hold  the  En- 
glish Army  in  play  whilst  the  rest  escaped  ; 
and  then  like  Jehu  they  marched  on  furious- 
ly, with  their  old  and  young  :  Some  carried 
their  old  decriped  mothers,  some  carried  one 
and  some  another.  Four  of  them  carried 
a  great  Indian  upon  a  bier  ;  but  going  through 
a  thick  wood  with  him,  they  were  hinckred, 
and  could  make  no  haste  ;  whereupon  they 
took  him  upon  their  backs,  and  carried  him 
one  at  a  time,  till  we  came  to  Bacquag  River> 
Upon  a  Friday  a  little  after  noon  we  came 
to  this  river  :  When  all  the  company  was 
come  up,  and  were  gathered  together,  I 
thought  to  count  the  number  of  them,  but 
they  were  so  many,  and  being  somev/hat  la 
motion,  it  was  beyond  my  skill.  In  thi§. 
travel,  because  of  my  wound,  I  was  some- 
what favored  in  my  load  :  I  carried  only  my 
knittingwork,   and  two  quart^.of  patched: 

M   2.  '\l 


>,  I 


'■  1 .  ( 


H! 


i 


>A  '  . 


W  I 


'^') 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELlVERANCtv 


i--i^i; 


meal  :  Bcinc;  very  faint,  I  asked  my  mistress 
to  give  mc  one  spoonful  of  the  meal,  but  she 
would  noc  give  mc  a  taste.  They  quickly 
fell  to  cutting  dry  trees,  to  make  rafts  to 
carry  them  over  the  river,  and  soon  my  turn 
came  to  go  over.  By  the  advantage  of  some 
brush  which  they  had  laid  upon  the  raft  to 
sit  on,  1  did  not  wet  my  foot,  (which  many 
of  themselves  at  the  other  end  were  mid  leg 
deep)  which  cannot  but  be  acknowledged  as 
a  favor  of  God  to  my  weakened  Body,  it  be- 
ing a  very  cold  time.  I  was  not  before  ac- 
quainted with  such  kind  of  doings,  or  dan* 
gers.  When  thou  passeth  through  the  waters  I 
will  be  with  thee^  and  through  the  rivers  they, 
shall  not  overflow  thee.  Isai.  43.  2.  A  certain 
number  of  us  got  over  the  river  that  nighty 
but  it  was  the  night  after  the  Sabbath  before 
all  the  company  was  got  over.  On  the  Sat- 
urday they  boiled  an  old  horse's  Leg  (which* 
they  had  got)  and  so  we  drank  of  the  broth^ 
as  soon  as  they  thought  it  was  ready,  and 
when  it  was  almost  all  gone,  they  filled  it  up 
g  ain. 

The  first  week  of  my  being  among  them^ 
I  hardly  eat  any  thing  :  The  second  week  I 
found  .ny  stomach  grew  very  faint  for  want 
of  something  ;  and  yet  it  was  very  hard  to 
get  down  their  filthy  trash  ;  but  the  third 
week  (though  1  could  think  how  formerly 
my  stomach  would  turn  .against  this  or  that, 
and  I  could  starve  and  die  before  I  could  eat 


-*  -r  --  * 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON 


23 


itresf 
It  sho 
[ickiy 
ts  to 
turn 
isome 
ift  to 
lany 
Id  leg 
jed  as 
it  be- 
e  ac- 
dan- 
ters  I 
they 
Ttain 
iight, 
►efora 
3Sat- 
/hich. 
roth  j 
»  and 
it  up 

hem^ 
ek  I 
ivant 
d  to 
hird  .. 
ierly 

1  eat  . 


such  things,)  yet  they  were  pleasant  and  sav- 
ory to  my  taste.  1  was  at  this  time  knit- 
ting a  pair  of  white  Gotten  s^^ockings  for  my 
mistress,  ai.  J  I  h,iJ  not  yet  wrought  upon 
the  Sabbath  \)vj  :  when  the  Sabbath  catne, 
they  bid  me  go  to  work  ;  1  told  them  it  was 
Sabbath  day.  and  desired  them  to  let  me  rest, 
and  told  them  I  would  do  as  much  more  to- 
morrow ;  to  which  they  ansv/cred  me,  they 
would  break  mv  face.  And  here  I  cannot 
but  take  notice  of  the  strange  Providence  of 
God  in  preserving  the  heathen  :  1  hey  were 
many  hundreds,  old  and  young,  some  sick 
and  some  lame,  many  had  papooses  at  their 
backs,  the  greatest  number  (at  this  time  with 
us)  were  Squaws,  and  they  travelled  with  all 
they  had,  bag  and  baggage,  and  yet  they  got 
over  this  river  aforesaid ;  and  on  Monday 
they  set  their  wigwams  on  fire,  and  away 
they  went  ;  on  that  very  day  came  the  En- 
glish Army  after  them  to  this  river,  and  saw 
the  smoak  of  their  wigwams,  and  yet  this 
river  put  a  stop  to  them.  God  did  not  give 
them  courage  or  activity  to  go  over  after  us  ; 
we  were  not  ready  for  so  great  a  mercy  as 
victory  and  deliverance;  if  we  had  been, 
God  would  have  found  out  a  way  for  the 
English  to  have  passed  this  River,  as  well  as 
for  the  Indians  with  their  Squaws  and  chil- 
dren, and  all  their  luggage.  Oh  that  my  peo- 
ple had  hearkened  to  me ^  and  Israel  had  walked 
in  my  waysj  I  should  som  have  sMbdued  their 


t 


t 


4\ 


■^-:-- 


ifi 


i'l 


i''f'' 


24        CAPTIVITY  and  DELIVERANCE 

enemies,  and  turned  my  hand  against  tbeir  ad^ 
versaries.  Psal.  81.  13^  14, 

The  sixth  remove. 

On  Monday  (as  I  said)  they  set  their  wig- 
wams on  fire,  and  went  away.  It  was  a  cold 
morning,  and  before  us  there  was  a  great 
brook  with  ice  on  it  :  Some  waded  through 
it,  up  to  the  knees  and  higher,  but  others 
went  till  they  came  to  a  beaver  dam,  and  I 
amongst  them,  where  through  the  good 
providence  of  God,  1  did  not  wet  my  footo 
I  went  along  that  day,  mourning  and  lament- 
ing (leaving  farther  my  own  country,  and 
travelling  farther  into  the  vast  and  howling 
wilderness)  and  I  understood  something  of 
Lot's  wife's  temptation,  when  she  looked 
back  :  We  came  that  day  to  a  great  swamp, 
by  the  side  of  w^hich  w^e  took  up  our  lodging 
that  night.  When  we  came  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill  that  looked  toward  the  swamp,  I 
thought  we  had  come  to  a  great  Indian  town. 
(Though  there  were  none  but  our  own  com- 
pany) the  Indians  were  as  thick  as  the  trees  ; 
it  seemed  as  if  there  had  been  a  thousand 
hatchets  going  at  once  :  If  one  looked  before 
one,  there  was  nothing  but  Indians,  and  be- 
hind one,  noti  ing  but  Indians  ;  and  so  on 
either  hand :  And  I  myself  in  the  midst,  and 
no  christian  soul  near  me,  and  yet  hov/  hath 
the  Lord   preserved  me  in  safety  !  Oh   the 


I 


;e 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


S5 


^eir  ad^ 


experience  that  I  have  had  of  the  goodness  of 
God  to  me  and  mine  ! 


a  cold 
great 
irough 
others 
,  and  I 
good 
y  foot, 
iment- 
y,  and 
)wling 
ing  of 
ooked 
i^amp, 
dging 
ow  of 

^p,  I 

:own. 
com- 
rees  ; 

isand 

efore 
d  be. 
iu  oa 
,  and 
hath 
the 


The  seventh  remove. 

After  a  restless  and  hungry  n  ight  there, 
we  had  a  wearisome  time  of  it  the  next  day. 
The  swamp  by  which  we  lay,  was  as  it  were 
a  deep  dungeon,  and  an  exceeding  high  and 
steep  hill  before  it.  Before  I  got  to  the  top 
of  the  hill,  I  thought  my  heart  and  legs  and 
all  would  have  broken,  and  failed  me.  What 
through  faintness  and  soreness  of  body,  it 
was  a  grievous  day  of  travel  to  me.  As  we 
went  along,  I  saw  a  place  where  English  cat- 
tle had  been,  th?.t  was  comfort  to  me,  such 
as  it  was  ;  quickly  after  that  we  came  to  aa 
English  path,  which  so  took  with  me,  that  I 
thought  I  could  there  have  freely  Hen  dowti 
and  died.  That  day,  a  little  after  noon,  we 
came  to  Squauheag,  where  the  Indians  quick- 
ly spread  themselves  over  the  deserted  English 
fields,  gleaning  what  they  could  fmd  ;  some 
picked  up  ears  of  wheat,  that  v/ere  crinckled 
down,  some  found  ears  of  Indian  corn,  some 
found  ground  nuts,  and  others  sheaves  of 
wheat  that  were  frozen  together  in  the  shock, 
and  went  to  threshing  of  them  out.  Myself 
got  two  ears  of  Indian  corn,  and  whilst  I  did 
but  turn  my  back,  one  of  them  was  stolen 
from  me,  which  much  troubled  me*  There 
came  an  Indian  to  them  at  that  timcj  with  a 


•'I 


'i      I 


H 


--.V*:; 


w 


«.^c . 


26 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


mm 


basket  of  horse  liver  ;  I  asked  him  to  give 
me  a  piece  :  What  (says  he)  can  you  eat 
horse  liver  ?  I  told  him  I  would  try  if  he 
would  give  me  a  piece,  which  he  did;  and  1 
laid  it  on  the  coals  to  roast,  but  before  it  was 
half  ready,  they  got  half  of  it  away  from  me  j 
so  that  I  was  forced  to  take  the  rest  and  eat  it 
as  it  was,  with  the  blood  about  my  mouth, 
and  yet  a  savory  bit  it  was  to  me  ;  for  to 
the  hungry  soul  every  bitter  thing  is  sweet. 
A  solemn  sigKt  me  thought  it  was,  to  see 
whole  fields  of  wheat  and  Indian  corn  for- 
saken and  spoiled,  and  thcx  remainder  of 
them  to  be  food  for  our  merciless  Enemies. 
That  night  we  had  a  mess  of  wheat  for  our 
supper. 


T»«    BJCVHTH    REMOVE. 


On  the  merrow  morning  we  must  go  o- 
ver  Connecticut  river  to  meet  with  King  Phil- 
ip  ;  two  canoes  full  they  had  carried  over, 
the  next  turn  myself  was  to  go  ;  but  as  my 
foot  was  upon  the  canoe  to  step  in,  there 
was  a  sudden  outcry  ai;pong  them,  and  I 
must  step  back;  and  instead  of  going  over  the 
river,  I  must  go  four  or  five  miles  up  the  riv- 
er farther  Northward,  Some  of  the  Indians 
ran  one  way,  and  some  another.  The  cause  o£ 
this  rout  was,  as  I  thought, their  espying  some 
English  scouts,  who  were  thereabouts,  in  this 
travel  up  the  river,  about  noon  the  company 


;  - 


SXE 

I  to  give 
you  eat 
ry  if  he 
U  and  1 
•e  it  was 
om  me  j 
id  eat  it 
mouth, 
;  for  to 

sweet. 

to  see 
►rn  for- 
ider  of 
nemies. 
for  our 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


ay 


t  go  o. 
gPhil- 
i  over, 
as  my 
there 
and  I 
^er  the 
le  riv- 
idians 
use  of 
some 
n  this 
ipany 


made  a  stop,  and  sat  down,  some  to  eat, 
and  others  to  rest  them.  As  I  sat  amongst 
them,  musing  on  things  past,  my  son  Joseph 
unexpectedly  came  to  me  :  We  asked  of  each 
others  welfare,  bemoaning  our  doleful  con- 
dition, and  the  change  that  had  come  upon 
us :  We  had  husband,  and  father,  and  chil- 
dren, and  sisters,  and  friends,  and  relations, 
and  house,  and  home,  and  many  comforts 
of  this  life  ;  but  now  we  might  say  as  Job^ 
naked  catjw  lout  of  my  mothers  womb,  andnak' 
ed  shall  I  return  :  The  Lord  gave^  and  the  Lord 
hath  taken  away^  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  I  asked  him  whether  he  would  read  ? 
he  told  me,  he  earnestly  desired  it.  I  gave 
him  my  bible,  and  he  lighted  upon  that  com- 
fortable scripture,  PsaL  118.  17,  18.  /  shall 
not  die^  but  live^  and  declare  the  works  of  the 
Lord  :  The  Lord  hath  chastened  me  sore^  yet  he 
hath  not  given  me  over  to  death.  Look  here 
mother  (says  he)  did  you  read  this  ?  And 
here  I  may  take  occasion  to  mention  one 
principal  ground  of  my  setting  forth  these 
few  lines,  even  as  the  psalmist  says,  to  declare 
the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  wonderful 
power  in  g  irrying  us  atong,  preserving  us  iu 
the  wilderness,  while  under  the  enemies 
hand,  and  returning  of  us  in  safety  again  ; 
arid  his  goodness  in  bringing  to  my  hand  so 
many  comfoitable  and  suiuble  scriptures  ia 
my  distress,  m  i 


5 


!         % 


■  \\ 


W 


■ilu! 


^ 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


.'IT 


1  fill 


ill 

■  It: 


m'tir'^^- 


in 


I 


K 


But  to  return  :  We  travelled  on  till  night, 
and  in  the  morning  we  must  go  over  the 
river  to  Philip's  crew.  When  1  was  in  the 
canoe,  I  could  not  but  le  amazed  at  the  nu- 
merous crew  of  Pagans  that  were  on  the 
bank  on  the  other  side.  When  I  came  a- 
shore,  they  gathered  all  about  me,  I  sitting 
alone  in  the  midst  :  I  observed  they  asked 
one  ancther  questions,  and  laughed,  and  re- 
joiced over  their  gains  and  victories.  Then 
my  heart  began  to  fail,  and  I  fell  a  weeping  ; 
which  was  the  first  time,  to  my  remem- 
brance, that  I  wept  before  them  ;  although  I 
had  met  with  so  much  affliction,  and  my 
heart  was  many  times  ready  to  break,  yet 
could  I  not  shed  one  tear  in  their  sight,  but 
rather  had  been  all  this  while  in  a  maze,  and 
like  one  astonished  ;  but  now  I  may  say  as 
Psal,  157.  1.  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon^  there 
we  sat  down^  yea^  we  wept^  when  we  remember ^ 
ed  Zioti.  There  one  of  them  asked  me,  why 
I  wept  ?  I  could  hardly  tell  what  to  say  ; 
yet  I  answered,  they  would  kill  me  :  No,  said 
he,  none  will  hurt  you.  Then  came  one  of 
them,  and  gave  me  two  spoonfuls  of  meal 
(to  comfort  mc)  and  another  gave  me  half  a 
pint  of  pease,  v/hich  was  more  worth  than 
mi^ny  bushels  at  another  time.  Then  I  went 
to  see  King  Philip  ;  he  bid  me  come  in,  and 
sit  dov^n  ;  and  asked  me  whether  I  would 
smoke  it  ?  (a  usual  complement  now  a  days, 
amoiig  Saints  and  Sinners)  but  this  no  way 


1 


CE 

night, 
er  the 
in  the 
he  nu- 
>n  the 
me  a- 
itting 

asked 
d  re- 
Then 

ping ; 

mem- 

ughl 

i  my 

c,  yet 

,  but 

,  and 

ay  as 

there 

mber^ 

why 

say; 

.said 

e  of 

meal 

ilfa 

han 

r^ent 

and 

uld 

lys. 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


2^ 


suited  me.  For  though  I  had  formerly  used 
tobacco,  yet  I  had  left  it  ever  since  I  was  first 
taken.  It  seems  to  be  a  bait,  the  devil  lays 
to  make  men  lose  their  precious  time.  I  re- 
member with  shame,  how  formerly,  when  I 
h?id  taken  two  or  three  pipes,  I  was  present- 
ly ready  for  another  ;  such  a  bewitching 
thing  it  is  :  But  I  thank  God,  he  has  now 
given  me  power  over  it ;  surely  there  are 
many  who  may  be  better  employed,  than  to 
sit  sucking  a  stinking  tobacco  pipe. 
.  Now  the  Indians  gather  their  Forces  to  go 
against  Northampton  :  Over  night  one  went 
about  yelling  and  hooting  to  give  notice  of 
the  design.  Whereupon  they  went  to  boiling 
of  ground  nuts,  and  parching  of  corn,  fas 
many  as  had  it)  for  their  provision  ;  and  in 
the  Morning  away  they  went.  During  my 
abode  in  this  place,  Philip  spake  to  me  to 
make  a  shirt  for  his  boy,  which  1  did  ;  for 
which  he  gave  me  a  shilling  ;  I  offered  the 
money  to  my  master,  but  he  bid  me  keep  it,, 
and  >.  ith  it  I  bought  a  piece  of  horse  flesh. 
Afterward  he  asked  me  to  make  a  cap  for 
his  boy,  for  which  he  invited  me  to  dinner  : 
I  went,  and  he  gave  me  a  pancake,  about  as 
big  as  two  fingers  ;  it  was  made  of  parched 
wheat,  beaten,  and  fryed  in  bears  grease,  but 
I  thought  I  never  tasted  pleasanter  meat  in 
my  lifo.  There  was  a  Squaw  who  spake  to 
mc  to  make  a  shirt  for  her  sannup  ;  for 
which  she  gave  me  a  piece  o£  tsar.     Anotli- 

N 


I 

f 


I3     r    .1 


rM! 


!'ii 


It!  {■ 

•1'. ; 


/ 


I 


so        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


M 


<!   i 


cr  asked  me  to  knit  a  pair  of  stockings,  for 
which  she  gave  me  a  quart  of  pease.  I  boil- 
ed my  pease  and  bear  together,  and  invited 
my  master  and  mistress  to  dinner  ;  but  the 
proud  gossip,  because  I  served  them  both  in 
one  dish,  would  eat  nothing,  except  one  bit 
that  he  gave  her  upoQ  the  point  of  his  knife# 
Hearing  that  my  son  was  come  to  this  place, 
I  went  to  see  him,  and  found  him  lying  flat 
upon  the  ground  ;  I  asked  him  how  he  could 
sleep  so  ?  he  answered  me,  that  he  was  not 
asleep,  but  at  prayer  ;  and  that  he  lay  so, 
that  they  might  not  observe  what  he  was  do- 
ing. I  pray  God  he  may  remember  these 
things  now  he  is  returned  in  safety.  At  this 
place,  (the  Sun  now  getting  higher)  what 
with  the  beams  and  heat  of  the  Sun,  and  the 
smoke  of  the  wigwams,  I  thought  I  should 
have  been  blind.  I  could  scarce  discern  one 
wigwam  from  another.  There  was  here  one 
Mary  Ihurstonof  Medfield,who  seeing  how 
it  was  with  me,  lent  me  a  hat  to  wear  ;  but 
as  soon  as  I  was  gone,  the  Squaw  w'ao/)wn- 
ed  that  Mary  Thurston,  came  running  after 
me,  and  got  it  away  again.  Here  was  a 
Squawy^who  gave  me  a  spoonful  of  meal,  I 
put  it  in  my  pocket  to  keep  it  safe,  yet  not- 
withstanding somebody  stole  it,  but  put  five 
Indian  corns  in  the  room  ot  it  ;  v/hich  corns 
were  the  greatest  provision  1  had  in  my  irav- 
el  for  one  day* 


■y 


Tx 


:e 


ngs,  for 
I  boil- 
invited 
3ut  the 
both  in 
one  bit 
s  knife. 
s  place, 
ing  flat 
e  could 
vas  not 
lay  so, 
ivas  do- 
r  these 
At  this 
)  what 
nd  the 
should 
rn  one 
Te  one 
g  how 
;   but 
:iX)wn- 
5  after 
was  a 
leal,  I 
!t  not- 
lit  five 
corns 
r  irav- 


Op  MARY  ROWLANDSON 


3i 


.to 


'  The  Indians  returning  from  Northamp- 
ton,  brought  with  them  some  horses,  and 
sheep,  and  other  things  which  they  had  tak* 
en  j  i  desired  them  that  they  would  carry 
me  to  Albany  upon  one  of  those  horses,  and 
sell  me  for  powder  ;  for  so  they  had  some- 
times discoursed.  I  was  utterly  hopeless  of 
getting  home  on  foot,  the  way  that  I  came. 
I  could  hardly  bear  to  think  of  the  many 
weary  steps  I  had  taken,  to  come  to  thii 
place. 

The    KINTH    REMOVE. 

But  instead  of  going  either  to  Albany  or 
homeward  we  must  go  five  miles  up  the  riv- 
tT:,  and  then  go  over  it.  Here  we  abode  a 
while.  Here  lived  a  sorry  Indian,  who  spake 
to  me  to  make  him  a  shirt,  when  1  had  done 
it,  he  would  pay  me  nothing  for  it.  But  he 
living  by  the  river  side,  where  I  often  went 
to  fetch  water,  I  would  often  be  putting  of 
him  in  mind,  and  calling  for  my  pay  ;  at 
last  he  told  me,  it  I  would  make  another 
shirt  for  a  papoos  not  yet  born,  he  would 
give  me  a  knife,  which  he  did,  when  I  had 
done  it.  I  carried  the  knife  in,  and  my  mas- 
ter asked  me  to  give  it  him,  and  I  vvas  not 
H  little  glad  that  I  had  any  thing  that  they 
would  accept  of,  and  be  pleased  with.  When 
we  were  at  this  place,  my  master's  maid  came 
home  ^  she  had  been  gone  three  weeks  into 


'  i 


*i 


s  I- 


^i 


",i 


^■>m 


:!:.,      A; 


if      vt.. 


E>s*'v 


:2        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 

the  Narraganset  country  to  fetch  corn,  where 
they  had  stored  up  some  in  the  ground  ; 
She  brought  home  about  a  peck  and  a  half 
^f  corn.  This  was  about  the  time  that  their 
great  captain  {Naananto)  was  killed  in  the 
Narraganset  country. 

My  son  being  now  about  a  mile  from  me, 
I  asked  liberty  to  go  and  see  him,  they  bid  me 
go,  and  away  I  went  ;  but  quickly  lost  my- 
self, travelling  over  hills  and  through  swamps, 
and  could  not  find  the  way  to  him.  And 
I  cannot  but  admire  at  the  wonderful  power 
and  goodness  of  God  to  me,  in  that  though 
I  was  gone  from  home,  and  met  with  all  sorts 
of  Indians,  and  those  1  had  no  knowledge  of, 
and  there  being  no  christian  soul  near  me, 
yet  not  one  of  them  offered  the  least  imagin- 
able miscarriage  to  me.  I  turned  homeward 
again,  and  met  with  my  master,  and  he 
shewed  me  the  way  to  my  son.  When  I 
came  to  him,  I  found  him,  not  well  ;  and 
withall  he  had  a  bile  on  his  side,  which  much 
troubled  him  :  We  bemoaned  one  another  a 
while,  as  the  Lord  helped  us,  and  then  I  re- 
turned, again.  When  I  was  returned  I 
found  myself  as  unsatisfied  as  I  was  be- 
fore.  I  went  up  and  down  mourning  and 
lamenting,  and  my  spirit  was  ready  to  sink, 
"With  the  thoughts  of  my  poor  children  ;  my 
son  was  ill,  and  I  could  not  but  think  of  his 
mournful  looks,  having  no  christian  friend 
near  him,  to  do  any  office  of  love  for  him^ 
either  for  soul  or  body.    And  my  poor  girl. 


:e 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


M 


I,  where 
round  ; 
1  a  half 
at  their 
in  the 

om  me, 
bid  me 
ost  my- 
wamps, 
.     And 


power 
though 
all  sorta 
dge  of, 
:ar  me, 
imagin- 
[leward 
and  he 
kVhen  I 
1  ;  and 
1  much 
other  a 
n  I  re- 
ned    I 
^■as  be- 
ngand 
>  sink, 
1 ;  my 
of  his 
friend 
r  him^ 
>v  girJj 


i  knew  not  where  she  was,  nor  whether  she* 
was  sick,  or  well,  or  alive  or  dead.  I  repair- 
ed under  these  thoughts  to  my  bible,  (my 
great  comforter  in  that  time)  and  that  scrip- 
ture came  to  my  hand,  Cast  thy  burden  upon 
the  Lord^  and  he  shall  sustain  thee^  Psal.  55,  22, 
But  I  was  fain  to  go  and  look  after  some- 
thing to  satisfy  my  hunger  :  And  going  a- 
mong  the  wigwams,  I  went  into  one,  and 
there  found  a  Squaw  who  shewed  herself 
very  kind  to  me,  and  gave  me  a  piece  of 
bear.  I  put  it  into  my  pocket,  and  came: 
home  ;  but  could  not  find  an  opportunity  to 
broil  it,  for  fear  they  should  get  it  from  me ; 
and  there  it  lay  all  that  day  and  night  in  my 
stinking  pocket.  In  the  morning  1  went  a- 
gain  to  the  same  Squaw,  who  had  a  kettle  of 
ground  nuts  boiling  :  I  asked  her  to  let  me 
boil  my  piece  of  bear  in  her  kettle,  which 
she  did,  and  gave  me  some  ground  nuts  to 
eat  with  it,  and  I  cannot  but  think  how  pleas- 
ant it  was  to  me.  I  have  sometimes  seen  bear 
baked  handsomely  amongst  the  English,  and 
some  liked  it,  but  the  thoughts  that  it  was 
bear,  made  me  tremble :  But  now  that  was 
savory  to  me  that  one  would  think  was  en-^ 
ough  to  turn  the  stomach  of  a  brute  crea° 
ture^-     '     ■  V:  '  ;*  '  --'*  ;^^, 

.,^  One  bitter  cold  day,  I  could  find  no  rooni 
tc)  sit  down  before  the  fire :  I  went  out,  arid 
could  not  telJ  what  to  do,  but  I  went  into  an  . 
other  wigwam,  where  they  were  also  sittiivg.; 


^  2 


*   <     I 


i      M 


\ 


fcU 


a. 


% 


J- 


['ii'iii 


Pm  I 


*l 


s*      CAPTIVITY  AND  delivi:rance 

round  the  fire  ;  but  the  Squaw  laid  a  skin  for 
me,  and  bid  roe  sit  down,  and  gave  me  some 
ground  nuts,  and  bid  me  come  again  ^  and 
told  me  they  would  buy  me,  if  they  were  a* 
ble  ;  and  yet  these  were  strangers  to  me  that 
I  never  knew  before, 

'  The  tenth  remove..        /; 

That  day  a  small  part  of  the  company  re- 
moved about  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  intend- 
ing farther  the  next  day.  When  they  came 
to  the  place  where  they  intended  to  lodge, 
and  had  pitched  their  wigwams,  being  hun- 
gry 1  went  again  back  to  the  place  we  were 
before  at,  to  get  something  to  eat  y  being  en- 
couraged by  the  Squaw's  kindness,  who  bid. 
me  come  again.  When  I  was  there,  there 
came  an  Indian  to  look  after  me  ;  who  when 
he  had  found  me,,  kicked  me  all  along.  I 
went  home  and  found  venison  roasting  that 
night,  but  they  would  not  give  me  oi?e  bit 
of  it.  Sometimes  I  met  with  favors,  andi 
aometimes  with  nothing  but  frowns. 

The  eleventh  remove.      .> 


I 


'!     iH 


The  nex  day  in  the  mornihgj  they  took 
their  travel,  intending  a  days  Journey  up  the 
river  ;  I  took   my   load  at  my  back,    and^ 
quickly  we  came  to  wade  over  a  river,  andi 
fussed  ever  tiresome  and  wearisome  hill^.. 


Of  MAUY  ROWLA     OSONT. 


S3 


in  for 
some 
and 
;re  a* 
ethat 


\y  re- 

tend* 

came 

odge, 

hun- 

were 

g  en- 

6  bid 

there 

whan 

that 

:  bit 

and^ 


took 
)  the 
an* 
andi 


One  hill  was  so  steqp,  that  Iv  is  rain  tO  creep 
up  upon  my  knees,  and  to  hold  by  he  t\i  ij^s 
and  bushes  to  keep  myselt  from  tali  ^ 
backward.  My  head  also  was  so  light  lat 
I  usually  reeled  as  I  went,  but,  I  hope  all  tUosc 
wearisome  steps  that  1  have  taken,  are  but 
a  forwarding  of  me  to  the  heavenly  rest.  / 
know  0  Lord,  that  thy  Judgfiients  are  right  and 
that  thou  in  faithfulness  hast  afflicted  7neyV^'^h 


119.  75. 


The  twelfth  remove* 


It  was  up'on  a  Sabbath  day  morning,  that 
they  prepared  for  their  travel.  This  morn- 
ing I  asked  my  master  whether  he  would  sell 
me  to  my  husband  I  he  answered  nux  ; 
which  did  much  rejoice  my  spirit.  My  mis- 
tress, before  we  went,  was  gone  to  the  buri- 
al of  a  papoos,  and  returning,  she  found 
me  sitting,  and  reading  in  my  bible  :  She 
snatched  it  hastily  out  of  my  hand,  and 
threw  it  out  of  doors  ;  I  ran  out  and  catched 
it  up,  and  put  it  in  ray  pocket,  and  never  let 
her  see  it  afterward.  Then  they  packed  up 
their  things  to  be  gone,  and  gave  me. my 
load  :  I  complained  it  was  too  heavy,  where* 
upon  she  gave  me  a  slap  on  the  face,  and  bid 
me  be  gone.  I  lifted  up  my  heart  to  God, 
hoping  that  redemption  was  not  far  off  % 
and  the  rather  because  their  ineolency  grew 
worse  and  worse. 


/*i 


\  1  h 


I 


s\ 


1 


•'.  ■'■ 


"i": 


26 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


li|.yj 


I 


'^^i! 


vm 


^s 


mi 


'  But  the  thoughts  of  my  going  homeward 
(for  so  we  bent  our  course)  much  cheered 
my  spirit,  and  made  my  burden  seem  light, 
and  almost  nothing  at  all.  But  (to  my  a- 
mazement  and  great  perplexity)  the  scale 
was  soon  turned  ;  for  when  we  had  gone  a 
little  way,  on  a  sudden  my  mistress  gave 
out,  she  would  go  no  further,  but  turn 
back  again,  and  said  I  must  go  back  again 
with  her,  and  she  called  her  sannup,  and 
would  have  him  go  back  also,  but  he  would 
not  ;  but  said,  he  would  go  on,  and  come  to 
us  again  in  three  days.  My  spirit  was  upon 
this  (I  confess)  very  impatient,  and  almost 
outrageous,  1  thought  I  could  as  well  havo 
died  as  went  back.  I  cannot  declare  the 
trouble  that  I  was  in  about  it  ;  but  yet  back 
again  I  must  go.  As  soon  as  I  had  an  oppoi  tu- 
nity,  I  took  my  bible  to  read,  and  that  qui- 
eting  Scripture  came  to  my  hand  Psal,  46. 
1(X  Be  still,  and  know  thai  I  am  God*  Which 
stilled  my  spirit  for  the  present ;  but  a  sore 
time  of  trial  I  concluded  I  had  to  go  through. 
My  master  being  gone,  who  seemed  to  me 
the  best  friend  that  I  had  of  an  Indian,  both 
in  cold  and  hunger,  and  quickly  so  it  proved. 
Down  I  sat^  with  my  heart  as  full  as  it  could 
hold,  and  yet  so  hungry,  that  T  could  not  sit 
neither  :  But  going  out  to  see  what  I  could 
find,  and  walking- among  the  trees,  I  found 
six  acorns  and  two  chesnuts^  whi^h  were, 
some,  refreshment   tome*    Toward  night  1 1 


^- 


1 


CE 

:heered 
1  light, 
niy  a- 
scale 
gone  a 
gave 
turn 
again 
and 
would 
ometo 
upon 
almost 
1  have 
e    the 
t  back 
poi'tu- 
it  qui- 
aL  46. 
.Vhich 
a  sore 
■ough. 
to  me 
►  both 
oved. 
could 

iOt  Sit 

couJd 
ound 
were 
ghtK 


Of  MARY  ROVVLANUSON. 


3/ 


gathered  me  some  sticks  for  my  own  com- 
fort, that  I  might  not  lye  cold  :  But  when 
we  came  to  lye  down,  they  bid  me  go  out, 
and  lye  somewhere  else,  for  they  had  compa- 
ny (they  said)  come  in  more  than  their  own  : 
1  told  them  I  could  not  tell  where  to  go,  they 
bid  me  go  look  :  I  told  them,  if  I  went  to  an- 
other wigwam  they  would  be  angry,  and 
send  me  home  again.  Then  one  of  the  com- 
pany drew  his  sword,  and  told  me  he  would 
run  me  through,  if  I  did  not  go  presently. ' 
Then  was  1  fain  to  stoop  to  this  rude  fellow, 
and  to  go  out  in  the  night  I  knew  not 
whirher.  Mine  eyes  have  seen  that  fellow 
afterwards  walking  up  and  down  in  Boston, 
under  the  appearance  of  a  friendly  Indian,  and 
several  others  of  the  like  cut.  I  went  to  one 
wigwam,  and  they  told  me  they  had  no 
room.  Then  1  went  to  another,  and  they 
said  the  same  :  At  last  an  old  Indian  bid  me 
come  to  him,  and  his  Squaw  gave  me  some 
ground  nuts  ;  she  gave  me  also  something  to 
lay  under  my  head,  and  a  good  fire  we  had  : 
And  through  the  good  Providence  of  God, 
I  had  a  comfortable  lodging  that  night.  In 
the  morning  another  Indian  bid  me  come  aJ. 
night, and  he  would  give  me  six  ground  nuts, 
which  I  did.  We  were  at  this  place  and 
tiuie  about  two  miles  from  Connecticut  riv- 
er. We  went  in  the  morning  (to  gather 
ground  nuts)  to  the  river,  and  went  back  a- 
gain  at  night,    I  went  with  a  great  load  at 


■  .4 


It 


(■ 
ill 


)^,■■ 


.t:  'i'-l" 


3d 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


my  ^ack,  (for  they  when  they  went,  though 
but  a  little  way,  would  carry  all  their  trum- 
pery  with  them)  I  told  them  the  skin  was  off 
my  back,  but  I  had  no  other  comforting  an- 
swer from  them  than  this,  that  it  would  be 
no  matter  if  my  head  were  off  too. 


m 


'4i 


iH 


11 


.    The  thirteenth  remove. 

Instead  of  going  toward  the  bay^,  (which 
was  that  I  desired)  I  must  go  with  them  five 
or  six  miles  down  the  river,  into  a  mighty 
thicket  of  brush  ;  where  we  abode  almost  a 
fortnight.  Here  one  asked  me  to  make  a 
shirt  for  her  papoos,  for  which  she  gave  me 
a  mess  of  broth,  which  was  thickened  with 
meal  made  of  the  bark  of  a  tree  j  and  to 
make  it  the  better,  she  had  put  into  it  abou^ 
a  handful  of  pease,  and  a  few  roasted  ground 
nuts.  I  had  not  seen  my  son  a  pretty  while 
and  here  was  an  Indian  of  whom  I  made  en- 
quiry after  him,  and  asked  him  when  he  saw 
him  ?  he  answered  me,  that  such  a  time  his 
master  roasted  him,  and  that  himself  did 
eat  a  piece  of  him  as  big  as  his  two  fingers, 
and  that  he  was  very  good  meat.  But  the 
Lord  upheld  my  spirit  under  this  discourage^ 
mcnt  'y  and  I  considered  their  horrible  addict- 
edness  to  lying,  and  that  there  is  not  one  of 
them  that  makes  the  least  conscience  of 
speaking  the  truth,        -  .^..f^.^.^* 


:e 
lough 

trum- 
vas  off 
ig  an- 
lid  b€ 


which 
Ti  five 
iighty 
^ost  a 
ake  a 
ve  me 
1  with 
nd  to 
about 
ound 
while 
3e  en- 
e  saw 
lie  his 
f  did 
igers, 
It  the 
rage, 
idict- 
ne  of 
ce  of 


In  this  place,  one  cold  night  as  I  lay  by  the 
fire,  I  removed  a  stick  which  kept  the  heat 
from  me,  a  Squaw  moved  it  down  again,  at 
which  I  looked  up,  and  she  threw  a  handful 
of  ashes  in  my  eyes ;  I  thought  I  should 
have  been  quite  blinded  and  never  have  seen 
more ;  but  lying  down,  the  water  ran  out 
of  my  eyes,  and  carried  the  dirt  with  it,  that 
by  the  morning  I  recovered  my  sight  again. 
Yet  upon  this,  and  the  like  occasions,  1  hope 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say  with  "Joh^  Have  pity 
upon  me^  have  pity  upon  me,  O  ye  my  friends  ^  for 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  has  touched  me.  And 
here  I  cannot  but  remember  how  many  times 
sitting  in  their  wngwams,  and  musing  on 
things  past,  I  should  suddenly  leap  up  and 
run  out,  as  if  1  had  been  at  home,  forgetting 
where  I  was,  and  what  my  condition  was : 
But  when  I  was  without,  and  saw  nothing 
but  wilderness,  and  woods,  and  a  company 
of  barbarous  heathen,  my  mind  quickly  re- 
turned to  me,  which  made  me  think  of  that 
spoken  concerning  Sampson,  who  said,  /  will 
go  out  and  shake  myself  as  at  other  times ^  but 
he  wist  not  that  the  Lord  was  departed  from 
him.  •  ^  ^ 

About  this  time,  I  began  to  think  that  afl 
my  hopes  of  restoration  would  come  to  noth- 
ing. 1  thought  of  the  English  army,  and 
Iu>ped  for  their  coming,  and  being  retaken 
by  them,  but  that  failed.  1  hoped  to  be  car- 
ried to  Albany,  as  the  Indians  had  discours- 


# 


)•-■ 


i'-  I 


'S.  <n 


.?■- 


\\ 


H 


*        CAPnVlTV  ANB  DELIVERANCE 


mH"  '/at 

rrym 
I,     '  i 


f  !■:■ 


cd,  but  that  failed  also,  I  thought  of  being 
sold  to  my  husband,  as  my  master  spake  ^ 
but  instead  of  that,  my  master  himself  was 
gone,  and  I  left  behind,  so  that  my  spirit 
was  now  quite  ready  to  sink.  I  asked  them 
to  let  me  go  out  and  pick  up  some  sticks, 
that  I  might  get  alone,  and  pour  out  my 
heart  unto  the  Lord,  Th^n  also  I  took  my 
bible  to  read,  but  I  found  no  comfort  here 
neither ;  yet  I  can  say,  that  in  all  my  sor- 
rows and  afflictions,  God  did  not  leave  mc 
to  have  any  impatience  work  towards  him- 
self, as  if  his  ways  were  unrighteous  ;  but  I 
knew  that  he  laid  upon  me  less  than  I  de- 
served. Afterwards,  before  this  doleful  time 
ended  with  me,  I  was  turning  the  leaves  of 
my  bible,  and  the  Lord  brought  to  me  some 
scriptures  which  did  a  little  revive  me,  as 
that,  Isa,  55.  8.  For  my  thoughts  are  not  your 
thoughts^  neither  ere  your  ways  my  ways^  saith 
the  Lord*  And  also  that,  PsaL  37.  5.  Cojiwiit 
thy  way  unto  the  Lord,  trust  also  in  him^  and  he 
shall  bring  it  to  pass. 

About  this  time  they  came  yelping  from 
Hadley,  having  there  killed  three  English 
ipen,  and  brought  one  captive  with  them, 
viz.  Thomas  Read.  They  all  gathered  about 
the  poor  man,  asking  him  many  questions. 
1  desired  also  to  go  and  see  him  ;  and  when 
I  came,  he  was  crying  bitterly,  supposing 
they  would  quickly  kill  him.  Whereupon 
I  asked  one  of  them,  whether  they  intcnaed 


Of  MARYROWLANDSOxM. 


4^ 


being 
pake  ^ 
If  was 

spirit 

them 
sticks. 
It  my 
k  my 
here 
ly  ser- 
ve me 
is  him- 

but  I 
.  Ide- 
al time 
aves  of 
e  some 
me,  as 
lot  your 
J,  saitb 
Com?7iii 
5  and  he 

[g  from 
English 
I  them, 
d  about 
lestions, 
d  when 
pposing 
sreupon 
ntenaed 


to  kill  him,  he  answered  me  they  would 
not :  He  beiog  a  little  cheered  with  that,  I 
asked  him  about  the  welfare  of  my  husband, 
he  told  me  he  saw  him  such  a  time  in  the 
bay,  and  he  was  well,  but  very  melancholy. 
By  which  I  certainly  understood  (though  I 
suspected  it  before)  that  whatsoever  the  In- 
dians told  me  respecting  him,  was  vanity 
and  lies.  Some  of  them  told  mc  he  was  ' 
dead,  and  they  had  killed  him  :  Some  said 
he  was  married  again,  and  that  the  governor 
wished  him  to  marry,  and  told  him  he  should 
have  his  choice,  and  that  all  persuaded  him 
I  was  dead.  So  like  were  these  barbarous 
creature  to  him  who  was  a  liar  from  the 
beginning. 

As  I  was  sittin.2;  once  in  the  wigwam  here, 
Philip's  maid  came  in  ^dth  the  child  in  her 
arms,  and  asked  me  to  give  her  a  piece  of  my 
apron,  to  make  a  flap  for  it  ;  I  told  her  I 
would  n'^t  ;  then  my  mistress  bid  mc  give  it, 
but  I  still  said  no.  The  maid  told  me,  if  I 
would  not  give  her  a  piece,  she  would  tear  a 
piece  off  it  :  I  told  her  I  would  tear  her  coat, 
then  :  With  that  my  mistress  rises  up,  and 
takes  up  a  stick  big  enough  to  have  killed 
me,  and  struck  at  me  with  it,  but  I  stcpt 
cmt,  and  she  struck  the  stick  into  the  mat  of 
the  wigwam.  But  while  she  was  pulling  of 
it  out,  I  ran  to  the  maid  and  gave  her  all  my 
aproiij  and  bo  that  storm  went  overf 

o 


'•'■'■       i* 


..1;  !■ 


.J 


t/,.; 


4^ 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


B:-1  ■"'I 


ffk 


«■■■         0'.    I'l 


!''  I 


Hearing   thaj   my  son   was  come  to  this 
place,  I  went  to  see  him,  and  told  him  his  Fa- 
ther was  well,    but    very  melancholy  :  He 
told  me  he  was  as  much  grieved  for  his  Fa- 
ther,  as    for   himself ;  I  wondered    at    his 
speech,  for  I  thought  I  had  enough  upon  my 
spirit,  in   reference  to  myself,    to  make  me 
mindless  of  my  husband,  and  every  cne  else, 
they  being   safe    among  their  friends.     He 
told  me  also,  that  a  while  before,  his  master, 
(together  with  other  Indians)  were  going  to 
the  French  for  powder,  but  by  the  way  the 
Mohawks  met  with  them,  and  killed  four  of 
their  company,  which  made  the  rest   turn 
back  again;  for  which  I  desire  that    myself 
and  he    may  bless   the  Lord  ;  for  it  might 
have  been  worse  with  him,  had  he  been  sold 
to  the  French,  than  it  proved  to  be  in  his  re- 
maining with  the  Indians. 
^   1   went  to  sec  an   English  youth    in  this 
place,  one  John  Gilberd  of  Springfield*     I 
found  him  lying  without  doors   upon   the 
ground  ;  I  asked  him  how  he  did  ?  he  told 
xne  he  was  very  sick  of  a  flux  with  eating  so 
much  blood*     They  had  turned  him  out  of 
the  wigwam,  and  with  him  an  Indian  Papoos, 
almost  dead,  (whose  parents  had  been  killed) 
in  a  bitter  cold  day  without  fire  or  cloaths  : 
.The  young  man  himself  had  nothing  on  but 
his  shirt  and  waistcoat.     This  sight  was  e- 
xiough  to  melt  a  heart  of  flint.     There  they 
I;iy  quivering  in  the  cold,  the  youth  round 


, 


u„ ', 


■  'i"P 


E 

o  this 
is  Fd- 
:  He 
is  Fa- 
:    his 
m  my 
ce  me 
e  else. 
He 
aster, 
ngto 
y  the 
)ur  of 
turn 
nyself 
might 
sold 
his  re- 
in this 
:ld.     I 
n   the 
5  told 
ing  so 
)ut  of 
apoos, 
killed) 
>aths  : 
)n  but 
vas  e- 
I  they 
round 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


45 


like  a  dog.  the  papoos  stretched  out  with  his 
eyes  and  nose,  and  mouth  full  of  dirt,  and 
yet  alive,  and  groaning.  I  advised  John  to 
go  and  get  to  some  fire ;  he  told  me  he  could 
not  stand,  but  I  persuaded  him  still,  lest  he 
should  lye  there  and  die.  And  with  much 
ado  I  got  him  to  a  fire,  and  went  myself 
home.  As  soon  as  I  had  got  home,  his  mas- 
ters daughter  came  after  me,  to  know  what 
1  had  done  with  the  English  man  ?  1  told  her  I 
had  got  him  to  a  fire  in  such  a  place.  Now 
had  I  need  to  pray  P^//^/'j  Prayer,  2,  Thess,  3. 
2.  That  we  may  be  delivered  from  unreasonable 
and  wicked  men.  For  her  satisfaction  I  went 
along  with  her,  and  brought  her  to  him  ; 
but  before  I  got  home  again,  it  vi^as  noised  a- 
bout,  that  I  was  running  away,  and  getting 
the  English  youth  along  with  me  :  That  as 
soon  as  I  came  in^  they  began  to  rant  and 
domineer,  asking  me  where  1  had  been,  and 
what  I  had  been  doing  ?  and  saying  they 
would  knock  me  on  the  head  :  1  told  them  I 
had  been  seeing  the  English  youth,  and  that 
I  would  not  run  away.  They  told  me  I  lied, 
and  getticg  up  a  hatchet,  they  came  to  me, 
and  said,  .they  would  knock  me  down  if  \ 
stired  out  again  ;  and  so  confined  me  to  the 
wigwam.  Now  may  1  say  witb David.  2, 
Sam,  24.  14.  lam  in  a  great  strait.  If  I  keep 
in,  I  must  die  with  hunger  ;  and  if  I  go  out^ 
I  must  be  knocked  on  the  head.  This  dis- 
tressed condition  held  that  day,  and  half  the 


M 


;! 


M        CAPTIVITY  ANi>  DELIVERANCE 


,  i 


'ft 


. .  1 


I:  -i'i 


k 


m 


fcM* 


r 


ii'.f 


next  J  and  then  the  Lord  remembered  me, 
whose  mercies  are  great.  Then  came  an  In« 
,dian  to  me  with  a  pair  of  stockings  which 
were  too  big  for  him,  and  he  would  have  me 
ravel  them  out,  and  knit  them  fit  for  him. 
I  shewed  myself  willing,  and  bid  him  ask  my 
mistress  if  I  might  go  along  with  him  a  little 
way  ?  she  said,  yes,  1  might  ;  but  I  was  not 
a  little  refreshed  with  that  news,  that  I  had 
my  liberty  again.  Then  I  went  along  with 
him,  and  he  gave  me  some  roasted  ground 
liuts,  which  did  again  revive  my  feeble  sto- 
mach. 

Being  got  out  of  her  sight,  I  had  time  and 
liberty  again  to  look  into  my  bible,  which 
was  my  guide  by  day,  and  my  pillow  by 
night.  Now  that  comfortable  scripture  pre- 
sented itself  to  me,  Isai.  4S,  7.  For  a  small 
moment  have  I  forsaken  thee^  but  with  great  mer- 
cies will  I  gather  thee.  Thus  the  Lord  carried 
me  along  from  one  time  to  another,  and 
made  good  to  me  this  precious  promise,  and 
many  others.  Then  my  son  came  to  see  me, 
and  I  asked  his  master  to  let  him  stay  a  while 
with  me,  that  I  might  comb  his  head,  and 
Jook  over  him,  for  he  was  almost  overcome 
with  lice.  He  told  me  when  1  had  done,  that 
he  was  very  hungry,  hut  1  had  nothing  to  re- 
Heve  him  but  bid  Jiim  go  into  the  wigwams 
3^s  he  went  along,  and  see  if  he  could  get  any 
thing  among  them.  Which  he  did,  and  (it 
seems)  tarried  a  little  to  long,  for  his  master 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


4'-) 


d  mc^ 
an  In« 
which 
^e  me 

him. 
kmy 
a  little 
IS  not 
I  had 

with 
*ound 
e  sto- 

e  and 
i^^hich 
w  by 
c  pre- 
small 
't  mer- 
arried 
,  and 
^9  and 
le  me, 
while 
I,  and 
come 
J,  that 
tore- 
wams 
;t  any 
id  (it 
1  aster 


Was  angry  with  him,  and  beat  him,  and  then 
sold  him.  Then  he  came  running  to  tell  me 
he  had  a  ilew  master,  and  that  he  had  given 
him  some  ground  nuts  already.  Then  I 
went  along  with  him  to  his  new  master, 
who  told  me  he  loved  him,  and  he  should 
isot  want.  So  his  master  carried  him  away^ 
and  r  never  saw  hiin  afterward,  till  I  saw 
him  at  Piscataquaini  Portsmouth. 

That  night  they  bid  me  go  out  of  the  wig- 
wam again  :  My  mistress's  papoos  was  sick, 
and  it  died  that  night ;  and  there  was  one 
bent  It  in  it,  that  there  was  more  room.  I 
Went  to  a  wigwam;  and  they  bid  me  come  in, 
and  gave  me  a  skin  to  lye  upon,  and  a  mess 
of  venison  and  ground  nuts,  which  was  a 
choice  dish  among  them.  On  the  morrow 
they  buried  the  papoose  ;  and  afterwai*d, 
both  morning  and  evening,  there  came  a 
company  to  mourn  and  howl  with  her  : 
though  I  confess  I  could  not  much  condole 
with  them.  Many  sorrowful  eyes  1  had  in 
this  place  ;  often  getting  alone,  like  a  crane  ct 
a  swallow^  so  did  I  chatter  ;  /  did  mourn  as  a 
dove,  mine  eyes  fail  with  looking  uptvard*  0 
Lord,  lam  oppres;  d,  undertake  for  me,  Isai,  38. 
]4.  I  could  te]  tiiC  Lord  as  Hezekiah,  vvr.  5. 
Remember  now  0  Lord,  I  beseech  thee^how  I  hav^ 
zoalked  before  thee  in  truth.  Now  had  I  time 
to  examine  all  my  ways  :  My  conscience  did 
:.io.taccuse  me  of  unrighteousness  towards  one 
or  other  j  yet  I  saw  how  in  my  walk  wiLt? 

0  2 


.  1  ; 


^pmr  s 


m 


1        :^l 


*\t;- 


U-hH 


■J 


f> 


t.-isti:. 


^',i:?'U. 


46        CAFTIVITY  and  DELIVERANCE 

God,  I  had  been  a  careless  creature.  As  Da- 
vid said,  Against  ihee  and  thee  only  have  I  shi- 
ned.  And  i  might  say  with  the  poor  Publi- 
can, God  he  merciful  unto  me  a  sinner.  Upon 
the  Sabbath  days  I  could  look  upon  the  sun, 
and  think  how  people  were  going  to  the 
house  of  God,  to  have  their  souls  refreshed^ 
smd  then  home,  and  their  bodies  also  ;  but  I 
was  destitute  of  both,  and  n  ight  say  as  the 
poor  Prodigal,  He  would  fain  have  filled  his 
belley  with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat,  and 
no  man  gave  unto  him,  Luke^  15*  16.  For  I  must 
say  with  him,  Father  I  have  sinned  against 
Heaven,  and  in  thy  sights  ver.  2K  I  remem* 
bered  how  on  the  night  before  and  after  the 
Sabbath,  when  my  family  was  about  me,  and 
xelations  and  neighbors  with,  us  ;  we  could 
pray,  and  sing,  and  refresh  our  bodies  with 
the  good  creatures  of  God,  and  then  have  a 
comfortable  bed  to  lye  down  on  ;  but  instead 
of  all  this,  I  had  only  a  little  swill  for  the 
body,  and  then  like  a  swine,  must  lye  down 
on  the  ground.  I  cannot  express  to  man,  the 
sorrow  that  lay  upon  my  spirit,  the  Lord 
knows^  it.  Yet  that  comfortable  scripture 
lyould  often  come  to  my  mind.  For  a  small, 
foment  have  I  forsaken  the^  but  with  great  mer- 
cies will  I  gather  thee » 


.  / 


.4. 


^'i.*h 


■.4 


s  Da- 

/  shi- 

Publi- 

Upon 

e  sur, 

)  the 

shedj 

but  I 

as  the 

led  his 

p,  and 

[must 

against 

;mem« 

:er  the 

e^  and 

could 

3  with 

have  a 

nstead 

or  the 

down 

in,the 

;  Lord 

•jpture 

a  sfnall 

%t  mer- 


:■■  nx^i 


«'5 


0?  MARY  ROWLANDSON.  ^7 


The  fourteenth  remove. 

Now  must  we  pack  up  and  be  gone  from 
this  thicket,  bending  our  course  toward  the 
bay  towns,  1  having  nothing  to  eat  by  the 
way  this  day,  but  a  few  crumbs  of  cake,  that 
an  Indian  gave  my  girl,  the  same  day  we 
were  taken.  She  gave  it  me  and  1  put  it  in- 
to my  pocket  :  There  it  lay,  till  it  was  so 
mouldy,  (for  want  of  good  baking)  that  one 
could  not  tell  what  it  was  made  of ;  it  fell 
all  to  crumbs,  and  grew  so  dry  and  hard,  that 
it  was  like  little  flints  ;  and  this  refreshed 
me  many  times,  when  I  was  ready  to  faint. 
It  was  in  my  thoughts  when  I  put  it  inta 
my  mouth,  that  if  ever  I  returned,  I  would 
tell  the  world,  what  a  blessing  the  Lord  gave 
to  such  mean  food.  As  we  went  along,  they 
killed  a  Deer,  with  a  young  one  in  her  5 
they  gave  me  a  piece  of  the  fawn,  and  it  was 
so  young  and  tender,  that  one  might  eat* 
the  bones  as  well  as  the  flesh,  and  yet  I 
thought  it  very  good.  When  night'  came 
on,  we  sat  down;  it  rained,  but  they  quickly 
got  up  a  bark  wigwam,  where  I  lay  dry  that 
night.  Hooked  out  in  the  morning,  and 
many  of  them  had  lain  in  the  rain  2^1  night, 
I  saw  by  their  reaking.  Thus  the  Lord  dealt 
mercifully  with  me  many  times^  and  1  fared 
better  thaii  many,  of  them.  In  the  morning 
thejy  toofe:  the  bipod  of  the  deerp^a^d  put  it 


1 


n»' 


I 


43        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


•  I?' 


into  the  paunch,  and  so  boiled  it  ;  I  could 
eat  nothing  of  that,  though  they  eat  it  sweet- 
ly. And  yet  they  were  so  nice  in  other 
things,  that  when  I  had  fetched  water,  and 
had  put  the  dish  I  diped  the  water  with,  into 
the  kettle  of  water  which  V  brought,  they 
would  say  they  would  knock  me  down  for 
they  said  it  was  a  sluttish  trick. 

-■       The  fifteenth  remove. 

We  went  on  our  travel.  1  bavinggot  one 
handful  of  ground  nuts,  for  my  support  that 
day  :  they  gave  me  my  load,  and  I  went  on 
cheerfully,  (with  the  thoughts  of  going 
homeward)  having  my  burden  more  on  my 
back  than  my  spirit.  We  came  to  Baquaug 
river  again  that  day,  near  which  we  abode  a 
few  days.  Sometimes  one  of  them  would 
give  me  a  pipe,  another  a  little  tobacco,  an- 
other a  little  salt,  which  I  would  change  for 
a  little  victuals.  I  cannot  but  think  what  a  ^ 
wolfish  appetite  persons  havein  a  starving 
condition;  for  many  times  when  they  gave 
me  that  which  was  hot,  I  was  so  greedy,  that 
I  shoulif  burn  my  mouth,  that  it  would 
trouble  me  hours  after,  and  yet  I  should^ 
quickly  do  the  same  again.  And  after  I  was 
thoroughly  hungry,  I  was  never  again  satis- 
fied. For  though  sometimes  it  fell  out  that 
I  got  enough,  and  did  eat  till  I  could  eat  no  » 
more,  yet  I  was  as  unsatisfied  as  I  was  wheirx 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


49 


could 
sweet- 
other 
',  and 
into 
they 
n  for 


)t  one 
tthat 
It  on 
going 
[n  my 
luaug 
ode  a 
i^ouJd 
,  an- 
2  for 
hat  a 
•ving . 
gave 
that 
ould 
ould^ 
was  ' 
latis-  V 
that 
:  na» 


^■ 


I  began.  And  now  could  I  see  that  scrip- 
ture verified,  (there  being  many  scriptures 
that  we  do  not  take  notice  of,  or  understand 
till  we  are  afflicted)  M/V.  6.  1 4.  Thou  shalt  eat 
and  not  be  satisfied.  Now  might  I  see  more 
than  ever  before,  the  miseries  that  sin  hath 
brought  upon  us.  Many  times  I  should  be 
ready  to  run  out  against  the  heathen,  but 
that  scripture  would  quiet  me  again,  ^/t/w,  3. 
6.  Shall  there  be  evil  in  the  city^  and  the  Lord 
hath  not  dofie  it  ?  1  he  Lord  help  me  to  make 
a  right  improvement  of  his  word,  and  that  I 
might  learn  that  great  lesson,  Mic.  6.  8,  0. 
He  hath  shev^ed  thee^  0  man^  what  is  good,  and 
what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee^  but  to  do 
justly^  and  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with 
thy  God  ?  Hear  ye  the  rod^  and  who  hath  ap' 
pointed  it. 


The  sixteenth  remove. 


^:^. 


■Ml 


■<% 


We  began  this  remove  with  wading  oUr 
Baquaug  river.  The  water  was  up  to  the 
knees,  and  the  stream  very  swift,  and  so 
cold,  that  I  thought  it  would  have  cut  me  in 
sunder.  I  was  so  weak  and  feeble,  that  I 
reeled  as  1  went  along,  and  thought  there  I 
must  end  my  days  at  last,  after  my  bearing 
and  getting  through  so  many  difficulties. 
The  Indians  stood  laughing  to  see  me  stag.- 
gering  along,  but  in  my  distress,  the  Lord 
gave  me  Experience  of  the  truth  and  good- 


HI 

'ill 


rm 


/'. 


w^ 


]a 


I'i-'-.  *'■. 


50        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 

ness  of  that  promise,  Isa.  45.  2.  Wbcn  thou 
fassest  through  the  waters  I  will  he  with  thec^ 
and  through  the  rivers^  they  shall  not  overfioia 
thee*  Then  1  sat  down  to  put  on  my  stock- 
ings and  shoes>  with  the  tears  running  down 
my  eyes,  and  many  sorrowful  thoughts  in 
my  heart.  But  I  got  up  to  go  along  with 
them.  Quickly  there  came  up  to  us  an  In* 
dian,who  informed  them,  that  I  must  go  to 
Wachuset  to  my  master,  for  there  was  a  let- 
ter come  from  the  Council  to  the  Saggar- 
mores  about  redeeming  the  captives,  and 
that  there  would  be  another  in  fourteen  days, 
and  that  I  must  be  there  ready.  My  heart 
was  so  heavy  before,  that  I  could  scarce  speak, 
or  go  in  the  path  \  and  yet  now  so  light  that 
I  could  run.  My  strength  seemed  to  come 
again,  and  to  recruit  my  feeble  knees,  and 
aching  heart ;  yet  it  pleased  them  to  go  but 
one  mile  that  night,  and  there  we  stayed 
two  days.  In  that  time  came  a  company  of 
IiUKans  to  us,  near  thirty,  all  on  horseback. 
My  heart  skiped  within  me,  thinking  they 
had  been  English  men  at  the  first  sight  of 
them  :  For  they  were  dressed  in  English  ap- 
parel, with  hats,  white  neckcloths,  and  sash- 
es about  their  waists,  and  ribbonds  upon  their 
shoulders  :  But  when-  they  came  near,  there 
was  a  vast  difference  between  the  lovely  fa- 
ces of  christians,  and  the  foul  looks  of  those 
heathens,  which  much  damped  my  sgirit  a^ 
gain..  •■      -  •    .-      ■'^•■■^     \  ,... 


E 


n 


thoti 
th  ihec^ 
verfiow 
stock- 
down 
;hts  in 
with 
an  In^ 
:  go  to 
s  a  let- 
Saggav 
s,   and 
1  days, 
heart 
speak, 
ht  that 
)  come 
s,  and 
JO  but 
stayed 
any  of 
eback. 
g  they 
ght  of 
sh  ap- 
I  sash- 
a  their 
there 
ely  fa- 
those 
ark  a* 

--\:  ■ 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON.  «i 


The  seventeenth  remove. 

A  comfortable  remove  it  was  to  me,  be« 
cause  of  my  hopes.  Ihey  gave  me  my  pack, 
and  along  we  went  cheerfully  ;  but  quickly 
my  will  proved  more  than  my  strength  ;  hav- 
ing little  or  no  refreshing,  my  strength  fail. 
ed,  and  my  spirits  were  almost  quite  gone. 
Now  may  I  say  as  Davioj  Psal.  109.  22,  25, 
24.  /  am  poor  and  needy ^  and  my  heart  is 
wounded  within  me*  I  am  gone  like  the  shadow 
when  it  declineth  :  I  am  tossed  tip  and  down 
like  the  locust :  My  knees  are  weak  through  fast* 
ingy  and  my  flesh  faileth  of  fatness.  At  night 
we  came  to  an  Indian  town,  and  the  Indians 
^at  down  by  a  wigwam  discoursing,  but  I 
was  almost  spent,  and  could  scarce  speak.  I 
laid  down  my  load,  and  went  into  the  wig- 
wam, and  there  sat  an  Indian  boiling  of  hors- 
es feet ;  (they  being  wont  to  eat  the  flesh 
first,  and  when  the  feet  were  old  and  dried, 
and  they  had  nothing  else,  they  would  §tl 
off  the  feet  and  use  themj  I  asked  him  to 
give  me  a  little  of  his  broth,  or  water  they 
were  boiling  in.  He  took  a  dish,  and  gave 
me  one  spoonful  of  Samp,  and  bid  me  take  as 
much  of  the  br(#Lh  as  I  would.  Then  1  pi.t 
some  of  the  hot  water  to  the  samp,  and 
drank  it  up,  and  my  spirit  came  again.  He 
gave  me  ais(^  a  piece  of  the  ruffe  or  ridding 
of   the  small  guts,  and   i  broiled   it  on  the 


V 


HI 


>  I 


\ 


ft  -•r^i 


62  CAPTIVITY  and  DELIVERANCE 

coals  ;  and  now  may  I  say  with  ^Qtiathan^  see 
'1  pray  you  how  mine  eyes  are  enlighienedy  because 
I  tasted  a  little  of  this  honey.  1  Sam.  14,  29. 
Now  is  my  spirit  revived  again ;  though 
means  be  never  so  inconsiderable,  yet  if  the 
Lord  bestow  his  blessing  upon  them,  they 
shall  refresh  both  soul  and  body« 

The  eighteetsith  remove. 


?>  >    'IS 


11 


■'i    , ., 


"We  took  up  our  packs,  and  along  we  went- 
But  a  wearisome  day  I  had  of  it.  As  we 
went  along,  1  saw  an  English  man  stript  nak- 
ed, and  laying  dead  upon  the  ground,  but 
knew  not  who  it  was.  Then  we  came  to 
another  Indian  town,  where  we  stayed  alt 
night.  In  this  town  there  were  four  En- 
glish children,  captives,  and  one  of  them  my 
own  sister's.  I  went  to  see  how  she  did,  and 
she  was  well,  considering  her  captive  condi- 
tion. I  would  have  tarried  that  night  with 
her.  but  they  that  owned  her  would  not 
suier  it.  Then  1  went  to  another  wigwam, 
where  they  were  boiling  corn  and  beans, 
which  was  a  lovely  sight  to  see,  but  I  could 
not  get  a  taste  thereof.  Then  I  went  into 
another  wigwam,  where  there  were  two  of 
the  English  children  :  The  S^uaw  was  boil- 
ing horses  feet,  she  cut  me  off  a  little  piece^ 
and  gave  one  of  the  English  children  a  piece 
also.  Being  very  hungry,  I  had  quickly  eat 
up  mine;  but   the   child   could  npt  bite  itj> ^ 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


50 


it  was  so  tough  and  sinewy,  but  lay  suck- 
ing, gnawing,  chewing  and  slabbering  of  it  in 
the  mouth  and  hand,  then  I  took  it  of  the 
child,  and  ate  it  myself,  and  savory  it  wa:^  to 
my  taste.  That  1  may  say  as  Job^,  Chap,  t>.  7. 
The  things  that  my  soul  refused  to  touchy  are  as 
my  sorrowful  meat.  Thus  the  Lord  made  that 
pleasant  and  refreshing,  which  another  time 
would  have  been  an  abomination.  Then  I 
went  home  to  my  mistress'  wigw^am,  and 
they  told  me  I  disgraced  my  master  with 
begging,  and  if  1  did  so  any  more,  they 
would  knock  me  on  the  head  :  I  told  thena 
they  had  as  good  do  that,  as  starve  me  to 
death. 


' 


■ife 


The  nineteenth  remove. 


They  said,  w*hen  we  went  out,  that  we 
must  travel  to  Wachuset  this  day.  But  a 
bitter  weary  day  I  had  of  it ;  travelling  nov/ 
three  days  together,  without  resting  any 
day  between.  At  last,  after  many  weary 
steps,  I  saw  Wachuset  hills,  but  many  miles 
off.  Then  we  came  to  a  great  svv'amp, 
through  which  we  travelled  up  to  the  knees 
in  mud  and  water,  which  was  heavy  going 
to  one  tired  before.  Being  almost  spent,  i 
thought  I  should  have  sunk  down  at  last,  and 
never  get  out  ;  but  I  may  say  as  in  PsdL  94. 
18.  When  my  foot  slipped^  thy  mercy  U  Lord 
held  me  up.     Going  along,  having  indeed  my 


I 


i 


m 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


llw 


i<t  > 


1 


i^ 


ir  ' 


ri--f^ 


life,  but  little  spirit,  Philip  (who  was  in  the 
company)  came  up,  and  took  me  by  the  hand, 
and  said,  two  weeks  more,  and  you  shall  be 
mistress  again.  I  asked  him  if  he  spake 
true  ?  he  answered,  yes,  and  quickly  you 
shall  come  to  your  master  again,  who  had 
J)een  gone  from  us  three  weeks.  After 
many  weary  steps,  we  came  to  Wachuset, 
where  he  was,  and  glad  was  I  to  see  him. 
He  asked  me  when  I  washed  me  ?  I  told  him 
not  this  month  ;  then  he  fetched  me  some 
water  himself,  and  bid  me  wash,  and  gave 
me  the  glass  to  see  how  I  looked,  and  bid  his 
Squaw  give  me  something  to  eat.  So  she 
qjave  me  a  mess  of  beans  and  meat,  and  a 
little  ground  nut  cake.  I  was  wonderfully 
revived  with  this  favor  shewed  me.  Psal. 
106.  46.  H<?  made  them  also  io  be  pitied  of  all 
ihose  that  carried  them  captives. 

My  master  had  three  Squaws,  living  some- 
limes  with  one,  and  sometimes  with  another. 
One,  this  old  Squaw  at  whose  wigwam  I  was, 
and  with  whom  my  master  had  been  those 
three  weeks,  another  was  Wettimore,  with 
whc^m  I  had  lived  and  served  all  this  while. 
A  severe  and  proud  dame  she  was  ;  bestow- 
ing every  day  in  dressing  herself  near  as 
much  time  as  any  of  the  gentry  of  the  land  : 
powdering  her  hair,  and  painting  her  face, 
going  with  her  necklaces,  with  jewels  in  her 
cars,  and  bracelets  upon  her  hands.  When 
she  bad   dressed   herself,  her  work  was    to 


•4 


,:«**'^ 


in  the 
;hand, 
hall  be 
spake 
y  you 

0  had 
After 

:hiiset, 
him. 
Id  him 
)  some 
i  gave 
bid  his 
>o  she 
and  a 
erfully 
.  Psah 
{  of  all 

;  some- 
lother. 
1  was, 
\  those 
;,  with 
while, 
lestow- 
lear  as 

1  land : 
^r  face, 

in  her 

When 

v^as    to 


Of  MARY  ROWLAND SOJS^. 


55 


make  girdles  of  wampom  and  beads.  Th 
third  Squaw  was  a  younger  one,  by  whom 
he  had  two  papooses.  By  that  time  I  was 
refreshed  by  the  old  Squaw,  Wettimore's 
maid  came  to  call  me  home,  at  which  I  fell  a 
weeping.  Then  the  old  Squaw  told  me  to 
encourage  me,  that  when  1  wanted  victuals, 
1  should  come  to  her,  and  that  I  should  lye 
in  her  wigwam.  1  hen  I  went  with  the  maidv 
and  quickly  I  came  back  and  lodged  there* 
The  Squaw  laid  a  Mat  under  me,  and  a  p;ood 
rug  over  me  ;  the  first  time  that  I  had  any 
such  kindness  shewed  me.  I  understood 
that  Wettimore  thought,  that  if  she  should 
let  me  go  and  serve  with  the  old  Squaw, 
«he  should  be  in  danger  to  loose  not  only 
r^/  service  but  the  redemption  pay  also. 
And  I  was  not  a  little  glad  to  hear  this  ;  be« 
ing  by  it  raised  in  my  hopes,  that  in  God's 
due  time,  there  would  be  an  end  of  this  sor- 
rowful hour.  Then  came  an  Indian  and  asked 
me  to  knit  him  three  pair  of  stockings,  for 
which  I  had  a  hat,  and  a  silk  handkerchief. 
Then  another  asked  me  to  make  her  a  shift, 
for  which  she  gave  me  an  apron.         ,  ,.  i 

Then  came  Tom  and  Peter  with  the  second 
letter  from  the  counsel,  about  the  captives. 
Though  they  were  Indians,  I  got  them  by 
the  hand,  and  burst  out  into  tears  ;  my  heart 
was  so  full  that  1  could  not  speak  to  them  ; 
but  recovering  myself,  I  asked  them  how 
my  husband  did  \  and  all  my  friends  and 


rJa 


:ii' 


»,■*' 


56 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


}  1 


acquaintance  ?  they  said  they  were  well,  but 
very  melaneholy.  They  brought  me  two 
biscuits,  and  a  pound  of  tobacco.  1  he  to- 
bacco I  soon  gave  away  :  When  it  was  all 
gone,  one  asked  n^e  to  give  him  a  pipe  of  to- 
bacco,  I  told  him  it  was  all  gone  ;  then  be- 
gan he  to  rant  and  threaten  ;  I  told  him 
when  my  husband  came,  I  would  give  him 
some  :  Hang  him,  rogue,  (says  he)  I  will 
knock  out  his  brains,  if  he  comes  here.  And 
then  again  in  the  same  breath,  they  would 
say,  that  if  there  should  come  an  hundred 
without  guns,  they  would  do  them  no  hurt. 
So  unstable  and  like  mad  men  they  were. 
So  that  fearing  the  worst,  I  durst  not  send  to 
my  husband,,  though  there  were  some 
thoughts  of  his  coming  to  redeem  and  fetch 
mc,  not  knowing  what  might  follow ;  for 
there  was  little  more  trust  to  them,  than  to 
the  master  they  served.  When  the  letter 
was  come,  the  Saggamores  met  to  consult  a- 
bout  the  captives,  and  called  me  to  them,  to 
enquire  how  much  my  husband  would  give 
to  redeem  me  :  When  I  came,  I  sat  down  a- 
mong  them,as  I  was  wont  to  do, as  their  man- 
ner is  ;  then  they  bid  me  stand  up,  and  said 
they  were  the  General  Court.  1  hey  bid  me 
speak  what  I  thought  he  would  give.  ISlow 
knov^ing  that  all  we  had  was  destroyed  by 
the  Indians,  I  was  in  a  great  strait.  I  thought 
if  1  should  speak  of  but  a  little,  it  would  be 
slighted,  and  hindex  the  matter  -^  if  of  a  great 


2E 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


57 


ill,  bnt 
ic  two 
I  he  to- 
t^as   all 

of  to- 
en  be- 
i  him 
VQ  him 

1  will 
And 
would 
jndred 

hurt. 

were, 
send  to 

some 
d  fetch 
A^;  for 
han  to 
2  letter 
isult  a- 
em,  to 
Id  give 
own  a- 
X  man- 
id  said 
bid  me 

l^ow 
cd  by 
lought 
uld  he 
I  great 


ium,  1  knew  not  where  it  would  be  procur-" 

td  ;  yet  at  a  venture,  I  said  twenty  pounds, 

yet   desired  them  to   take  less;  but    they 

would  not  hear  of  that  but  sent  that  message 

to  Boston,  that  for  twenty  pounds  1  should 

be  redeemed.     It  was  a  praying  Indian  that 

-wroLe  their  letter  for  them.     There  wasan- 

other  praying  Indian,  who  told  me,  that  he 

had  a  brother  that  would  not  eat  horse,  his 

conscience  was   so  tender   and  scrupulous., 

(though  as  large  as  hell,  for  the  destruction 

of  poor  christians)  then  he  said  he  read  that 

scripture  to  him,  2.  King.  6.  25.  There  was  a 

famine  in  Samaria ^  and  behold  they  besieged  it. 

until  an  asses  head  was  sold  for  fourscore  piecs  of 

silver ^  and  the  fourth  part  of  a  kab  of  doves 

'  d^J^g-i  for  five  pieces  cf  silver.     He  expounded 

,  this  place  to  his  brother,  and  shewed  him  tha? 

r  it  was  lawful  to  eat  that  in  a  famine,  which 

■  is  not  at  another  time.     And  now  says  he, 

,  he  will  eat  horse  with  any  Indian  of  them  all. 

There  was  another  praying  Indian,  who  when 

he  had  done  all  the  mischief  that  he  could, 

.  betrayed  his  own  Father  into  the  English's 

hands,    thereby    to    purchase  his  own  life 

.  Another   praying    Indian  was    at   Sudbur) 

fight,  though  as  he  deserved,  he  was  after- 

V ward  hanged   for    it.     There  was  another 

.'praying   Indian  so  wicked   and  cruel,  as  to 

^wear  a   string  about  his  neck,   strung  wiih- 

^^christian    fingers.     Another  praying  Indian* 

s  when  tliey  v/ent  to  Sudbury  fight,  went  with 


r 


<> 


% 


i; 


.  ;_.* 


■'•:\' 


is 


CAPTIVITY  K^D  DELIVERANCE 


i  0 


|i 


them,  and  Iiis  Squaw  also  with  him,  with 
her  papoos  at  her  back  :  Before  they  went 
to  that  light,  they  got  a  company  together 
toPowaw  :  The  manner  was  as  followeth. 

There  was  one  that  kneeled  upon  a  deer 
skin,  with  the  company  round  him  in  a  ring, 
who  kneeled,  striking  upon  the  ground  with 
their  hands,  and  with  sticks,  and  muttering 
<OT  humming  with  their  mouths.  Besides 
him  who  kneeled  in  the  ring,  there  also  stood 
one  with  a  gun  in  his  hand  :  Then  he  on  the 
deer  skin  made  a  speech,  and  all  manifested 
assent  to  it,  and  so  they  did  many  times  to* 
gether.  Then  they  bid  him  with  the  gun  go 
out  of  the  ring,  which  he  did  ;  but  when  he 
was  out,  they  called  him  in  again  ;  but  he 
;seemed  to  make  a  stand  :  llien  they  called 
the  more  earnestly,  till  he  returned  again. 
Then  they  all  sung.  Then  they  gave  him 
two  guns,  in  each  hand  one.  And  so  he  on 
the  deer  skin  began  again  ;  and  at  the  end  of 
^cvery   sentence    in   bis  speaking,   they,  all 

)  assented,  bumming  or  nt^uttering  with  their 

^  mouths,  and  striking  upon  the  ground  with  • 
/i  their   hands.     Then  they  bid  him  with  the 
two  guans,  go  out  of  the  ring  again ;  which 

ihe  did  a  little  way*     Then  they  called  him 
in  againybut  he  made  a  stand,  so  they  called 

rjiim  with  greater  earnestness  :  But  he  stood 
reeling  and  wavering,  as  if  he   knew    not 
i«?hether  he  should  stand  or  fall,  or  which  . 
way  to  go.     Thfen- they  called  him.  with  ex.. 


■br:.    "£ 


, 


with 
went 
ethei 
th. 

deer 
ring, 
with 
ering 
ssides 
stood 
in  the 
■ested 
IS  to- 
un  go 
en  he 
It  he 
called 
igain. 

him 
he  on 
indof 
y.  all 
their 
I  with '. 
h  the 
vhlch 
L  him 
called 
stood 

not 
vhich  , 
:h€: 


;Xh. 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


59 


v» 


ceeding  great  vehemency,  all  of  them,  one 
and  another.  After  a  little  while  he  tm-ned 
in,  staggering  as  he  went,  with  his  arms 
stretched  out,  in  each  hand  a  gun.  As 
soon  as  he  came  in,  they  all  sung  and  rejoiced 
exceedingly  a  while,  and  then  he  upon  the 
deer  skin  made  another  speech,  unto  which 
they  all  assented  in  a  rejoicing  manner  ;  and 
so  they  ended  their  business,  and  forthwith 
went  to  Sudbu^    fight. 

To  my  thinking,  they  went  without  any 
scruple  but  that  they  should  prosper,  and 
gain  the  victory.  And  they  went  out  not 
so  rejoiceing,  but  they  came  home  with 
as  great  a  victory.  For  they  said  they  had 
killed  two  Captains,  and  almost  an  hundred 
meA.  One  English  man  they  brought  alive 
with  them,  and  he  said  it  was  too  true,  for 
they  had  made  sad  work  at  Sudbury  ;  as  in« 
deed  it  proved.  Yet  they  came  home  with- 
out that  rejoiceing  and  triumphing  over 
their  victory,  which  they  were  wont  to  shew 
at  other  times  :  But  rather  lik^  dogs,  (as 
they  say)  which  have  lost  their  ears.  Yet  i 
could  not  perceive  that  it  was  for  their  own 
,  ^ss  of  men  ;  they  said  they  lost  not  above 
live  or  six  j  and  I  missed  none,  except  in  one 
wigwam.  When  they  went,  they  acted  as 
if  the  Devil  had  told  them  that  they  should 
^ain  the  victory  ;  and  now  they  acted  as  if 
the  devil  had  told  them  that  they  should 
luve   a  fall.     Whether  it  were  so  or  no,  I 


i.  i 


>  (i 


1  hi 


4. 


:«  |: 


"/  ' ' 


60         CAPTIX'ITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


.-'  ti. 


i    ( 


^■h 


cannot  tell,  but  so  it  proved  :  For  quickly 
they  began  to  fall,  and  so  held  on  that  sum- 
mer, till  they  came  to  utter  ruin.  1  hey 
came  home  on  a  Sabbath  day,  and  the  Powaw 
that  kneeled  upon  the  Deer  skin,  came  home 
(I  may  say  without  any  abuse)  as  black  as  the 
Devil.  When  my  master  came  home,  he 
came  to  me,  and  bid  me  make  a  shirt  for  his 
Papoos  of  a  holland  laced  pillowbeer.  A- 
bout  that  time  there  came  an  Indian  to  me, 
and  bid  me  come  to  his  wigwam  at  night,  and 
he  would  give  me  some  pork  and  ground- 
nuts. Which  I  did,  and  as  I  was  eating,  an- 
other Indian  said  to  me,  he  seems  to  be  your 
good  friend,  but  he  killed  twc  English  men 
at  Sudbury,  and  there  lye  th  ir  cloaths  be- 
hind you  ;  I  looked  behind  me,  and  there  I 
saw  bloody  cloaths,  with  bullet  holes  in 
them  ;  yet  the  Lord  suffered  not  this  wretch 
to  do  me  any  hurt.  Yea,  instead  of  that,  he 
many  times  refreshed  me  :  Five  or  six  times 
did  he  and  his  Squaw  refresh  my  feeble  car- 
cass. If  I  went  to  their  wigwam  at  any  time, 
they  would  always  give  me  something,  and 
y€t  they  were  strangers  that  I  never  saw  be- 
fore. Another  Squaw  gave  me  a  piece  of 
fresh  pork,  and  a  little  salt  with  it,  and  lent 
me  her  fryingpan  to  fry  it^  and  I  cannot  but 
remember  what  a  sweety,  pleasant  and  de- 
lightful relish  that  bit  hid  to  me,  to  this  day. 
So  little  do  we  prize  common  merciesj  whem 
we  have  them  to  th^  full,-  m  >w^ 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON 


61 


uickly 
sum- 
Ihey 
^owaw 
home 
:as  the 
le,  he 
for  his 
r.  A- 
o  me, 
ht^and 
round- 
ng,  an- 
e  vour 
h  men 
ths  be- 
tliere  I 
oles  in 
wretch 
hat,  he 
i  times 
>le  car- 
y  time, 
ig,  and 
aw  be- 
iece  of 
ndlent 
^iOt  but 
nd  de- 
lis  day, 
,  whcE 


■*,»• 


The  twentieth  remove. 


*,' 


It  was  their  usual  manner  to  remove, 
when  they  had  done  any  mischief,  lest  they 
should  be  found  out ;  and  so  they  did  at  this 
time.  We  went  about  three  or  four  miles, 
and  there  they  built  a  great  wdgwam,  big 
enough  to  hold  an  hundred  Indians,  which 
they  did  in  preparation  to  a  great  day  of 
danciftg.  k  hey  would  now  say  amongst 
themselves,  that  the  governor  would  be  so 
angry  for  his  loss  at  Sudbury,  that  he  v/ould 
send  no  more  about  the  captives,  which  made 
ine  grieve  and  tremble.  My  sister  being 
not  far  from  this  place,  and  hearing  that  i 
was  here,  desired  her  master  to  let  her  come 
and  see  me,  and  he  was  willing  to  it,  and 
would  go  with  her  ;  but  she  being  ready 
first,  told  him  she  would  go  before,  and  was 
come  w^ithin  a  mile  or  two  of  the  place :  Then 
he  overtook  her,  and  began  to  rant  as  if  he 
had  been  mad,  and  made  her  go  back  again 
in  the  rain  ;  so  that  I  never  saw  her  till  i 
saw  her  in  Charlestown.  But  the  Lord  re- 
quited many  of  their  ill  doings,  for  this  In- 
dian, her  master,  was  hanged  afterward  at 
Boston.  They  beg.m  now  to  come  from  all 
quarters,  against  their  merry  dancing  day  : 
Amongst  some  of  them  came  one  good  wife 
kettle  :  I  told  her  rny  heart  was  so  heavy  that 

So  is  mine  too,  said 


i 


\\ 


1 


■H 


iA 


M 


ready  to  break 


#' 


1 


i 


62  CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 

she,  but  yet  I  hope  we  shall  hear  some  good 
news^  shortly.  I  could  hear  how  earnestly 
my  sister  desired  to  see  me,  and  I  earnestly 
desired  to  see  her  ;  yet  neither  of  us  could 
get  an  opportunity.  My  daughter  was  now 
but  about  a  mile  off ;  and  I  had  not  seen  her 
in  nine  or  ten  weeks,  as  I  had  not  seen  my 
sister  since  our  first  taking.  1  desired  them 
to  let  me  go  and  see  thenri,  yea,  1  intreated, 
begged  and  persuaded  them  to  let  me  see 
my  daughter  ;  and  yet  so  hard  carted  were 
they,  that  they  would  not  suffer  it.  They 
made  use  of  their  tyranical  power  whilst 
they  had  it,  but  through  the  Lord's  wonder- 
ful mercy,  their  time  was  now  but  short. 
i  •  On  a  Sibbath  day,  the  sun  being  about  an 
hour  high  in  the  afternoon,  came  Mr.  John 
Hoar,  (the  counsel  permitting  him  and  his 
own  forward  spirit  inclining  him)  together 
with  the  two  forementioned  Indians,  Tom 
and  Peter,  with  the  third  letter  from  the 
Council.  When  they  came  near,  I  was  a- 
broad  ;  they  presently  called  me  in,  and  bid 
me  sit  down,  and  not  stir.  Then  they  catch- 
ed  up  their  guns  and  away  they  ran,  as  if  an 
^enemy  had  been  al  hand,  and  the  guns  went 
off  apace.  I  manifested  some  great  trouble, 
and  they  asked  me  what  was  the  matter  ?  I 
told  them  1  thought  they  had  killed  the  En- 
glish man^  (for  they  had  in  the  mean  time 
told  me  that  an  English  man  was  conie)  they 
said  no  }  they    shot  ovet  his   horse,   and 

7       W 


'•!«'■ 


.*#.■' 


!  good 
•nestly 
'nestly 

could 
is  now 
en  her 
in  my 
I  them 
reated, 
ne  see 
d  were 

They 
whilst 
onder- 
irt. 

3ut  an 
.  John 
id  his 
gether 
lorn 
m  the 
was  a- 
nd  bid 

catch- 
3  if  an 
s  went 
ouble, 
ter  ?  I 
le  En* 
time 
:)  they  ^ 
and* 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


63 


under,  and  before  his  horse  ;  and  they 
pushed  him  this  way  and  that  way,  at  their 
pleasure,  shewing  what  they  could  do. 
Then  they  let  them  come  to  their  wigwams. 
I  begged  of  them  to  let  me  see  the  English 
man.  but  they  would  not  ;  but  there  was  I . 
fain  to  sit  their  pleasure.  When  they  had 
talked  their  fill  with  him,  they  suffered  me 
to  go  to  him.  We  a^ked  each  other  of  our 
welfare,  and  how  my  husband  did,  and  all 
my  friends  ?  he  told  me  they  were  all  well, 
and  would  be  glad  to  see  me.  Among  other 
things  which  my  husband  sent  me,  there 
came  a  pound  of  tobacco,  which  I  sold  for 
nine  shillings  in  money  :  For  many  of  them 
for  want  of  tobacco,  smoked  hemlock  and 
ground  ivy.  It  was  a  great  mistake  in  any 
who  thought  I  sent  for  tobacco,  for  through 
the  favor  of  God,  that  desire  was  overcome, 
1  now  asked  them,  whether  I  should  go  home 
with  Mr.  Hoar  ?  they  answered  no,  one  and 
another  of  them  ;  and  it  being  late,  we  lay 
down  with  that  answer  :  In  the  morning 
Mr.  Hoar  invited  the  Saggamorcs  to  dinner  ; 
but  when  we  went  to  get  it  ready,  we  found 
they  had  stolen  the  greatest  part  of  the  pro- 
vision Mr.  Hoar  had  brought.  And  we  may 
see  the  wonderful  power  of  God,  in  that  one 
passage,  in  that  when  there  was  such  a  num« 
ber  of  them  together,  and  so  greedy  of  a  lit- 
tle good  food,  and  no  English  there  but  Mr. 
Hoar  and  myself,  that  there  they  did  not 
knock  us  on  the  head,    and  take   what  wc 


'  I 


Ml 


ii- 


ill 


■'l\ 


% 


i^i^ 


6*        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


' :  1  '- 


Ll' 


had  ;  there  being  not  only  some  provision^ 
but  also  trading  cloth,  a  part  of  the  twenty 
pounds  agreed  upon  :  But  instead  of  doing 
us  any  mischief,  they  seemed  to  be  ashamed 
of  the  fact,  and  said  it  was  Matchit  Indians 
that  did  it.  Oh  that  we  could  believe  that 
there  is  nothing  too  hard  for  God  !  God 
shewed  his  power  over  the  Heathen  in  this, 
as  he  did  over  the  hungry  lions,  when  Dan- 
iel was  cast  into  the  den.  Mr.  Hoar  called 
them  betime  to  dinner,  but  they  eat  but  lit- 
tle, they  being  so  busy  in  dressing  them- 
selves and  getting  ready  for  their  dance  ; 
which  was  carried  on  by  eight  of  them,  four 
men  ard  four  Squaws  ;  my  master  and  mis- 
tress being  two.  He  was  dressed  in  his  hol- 
land  shirt,  with  great  laces  sewed  at  the  tail 
of  it,  he  had  his  Silver  buttons,  his  white 
stockings,  his  garters  hung  round  with  shil. 
Jlings,  and  had  girdles  of  wampom  upon  his 
head  and  shoulders.  She  had  a  kersey  coat, 
covered  with  girdles  of  wampom  from  the 
loins  upward.  Her  arms  from  her  elbows 
to  her  hands,  were  covered  with  bracelets, 
there  were  handfuls  of  Necklaces  about  her 
neck,  and  several  sorts  of  jewels  in  her  ears. 
She  had  fine  red  stockings,  and  white  shoes, 
her  hair  powdered  and  her  face  painted  red, 
that  was  always  before  black.  And  ail  the 
dancers  were  after  the  same  manner.  There 
were  two  otlier  singing  and  knocking  on  a 
kettle  for  their  music.     Ihey  kept  hopping 


1 


i 


s. 


I 


••■  * 


■■■J, 


Of  MAP.Y  ROWr.ANDSOX 


C$ 


ision, 
venty 
doing 
amed 
idians 
2  that 

God 
i  this, 

Dan- 
called 
It  lit. 
them- 
mce  ; 
,  four 
imis- 
s  hol- 
le  tail 
white 
I  shil* 
n  his 
coat, 
n  the 
bows 
elets, 
t  her 

ears, 
ihoes, 
I  red, 
the 
rhere 

on  a 
bping 


up  and  down  one  after  another,  wiih  a  kel- 
tic of  water  in  the  midst,  standing  warm  up- 
on some  embers,  to  drink  of  when  they 
were  dry.  They  held  on  till  it  was  almost 
night,  throwing  out  wampom  to  the  stand- 
ers  by.  At  night  I  asked  them  again,  if  I 
should  go  home  ?  they  all  as  one  said  no,  ex- 
cept my  husband  would  come  forme.  When 
we  were  lain  down,  my  master  went  out  ot 
the  wigwam,  and  by  and  by  sent  in  an  In- 
dian, called  James  the  Pointer,  whc  tcid  Mr, 
Hoar,  that  my  master  would  Icr  uie  ^o  home 
to  morrow,  if  he  would  i:^t  |ji;n  hrive  one 
pint  liquor.  Then  Mr.  Vlc^r  called  his  own 
Indians,  Tom  and  Peter,  a!)d  bid  tiicm  'v!.!  go, 
and  see  if  he  would  pr<;mise  it  b^i^ora  tl.cr.k 
three  ;  and  if  he  would,  he  sho'iiJ  hs'^ti  it, 
which  he  did,  and  had  it.  Pluiip  smciilng 
the  business,  called  me  to  him^  ard  asked  lii:: 
whac  I  would  give  him,  to  tell  me  soir/C  good  ^ 
news,  and  to  speak  a  good  vvorri  for  nie^ 
that  1  might  go  home  to  morrow  ?  I  to!  i 
him  1  could  not  tell  what  to  s^ive  lair..,  I 
would  any  thing  1  had,  ?.nd  asked  i  vxi  wJiat 
he  would  have  ?  lie  siid  two  ov^ts,  ard 
twenty  shillings  in  money,  hau:  a  hashcl  of 
seed  corn,  and  some  trbacco.  1  ihankcd  hi rn 
for  his  love,  ivi:  I  Knew  that  good  news  a^ 
well  as  th.'L  crafty  fox.  My  master  after 
he  Had  his  drink,  quickly  came  rantir^g 
into  the  v/igwam  again,  and  called  for  Mr. 
Hoar,  drinking  ^to  him,  and  saying  he  v/rs  a 


» 


-♦;■  M 


'fv/ 


.1, 
,1, 


'■    4 


w^ 


i  » 


it-M 


66        CAPTIVITY  and  DELIVERANCE 

good  man,  and  then  again  he  would  say, 
hang  him  rogue.  Being  almost  drunk,  he 
would  drink  to  him,  and  yet  presently  say  he 
should  be  hanged.  Then  he  called  for  me  ; 
I  trembled  to  hear  him,  and  yet  I  was  fain  to 
go  to  him  ;  and  he  drank  to  me,  shewing 
310  incivility.  He  was  the  first  Indian  I  saw 
drunk,  all  the  time  I  was  among  them.  At 
last  his  Squaw  ran  out,  and  he  after  her, 
round  the  wigwam,  with  his  money  jingling 
at  his  knees,  but  she  escaped  him  ;  but  hav- 
ing an  old  Squaw  he  ran  to  her ;  and  so 
through  the  Lord's  mercy,  we  were  no  more 
troubled  with  him  that  night.  Yet  I  had 
not  a  comfortable  nights  rest  ;  for  I  think  I 
can  sayj  1  did  not  sleep  for  three  nights  to- 
gether. The  night  before  the  letter  came 
from  the  council,  I  could  not  rest,  I  was  so 
full  of  fears  and  troubles  ;  yea,  at  this  time  I 
could  not  rest  night  nor  day.  The  next 
night  I  was  overjoyed,  Mr.  Hoar  being  come, 
and  that  with  such  good  tidings.  1  he  third 
night  I  was  even  swallowed  up  with  the 
thoughts  of  going  home  again,  and  that  I 
must  leave  my  children  behind  me  in  the 
wilderness  ;  so  that  sleep  was  now  almost 
departed  from  mine  eyes. 

On  Tuesday  morning  they  called  their 
General  Clourt  (as  they  sriled  it)  to  consult 
and  determine,  whether  I  should  go  home  or 
no.  And  they  all  seemingly  consented  that 
I  should  go,  except  l^hilip,  ^who  would  not 
come  among  them,        ^V.      .     ^  , 


j^-.  .^ 


•i, 


-E 

uld  say, 
nk,   he 
1^  say  he 
)r  me ; 
5  fain  to 
hewing 
n  liaw 
[H.     At 
er  her, 
ingling 
ut  hav- 
ind    so 
0  more 
cl  had 
think  I 
;hts  to- 
'  came 
svas  so 

time  I 
next 

come, 
e  third 
h    the 

that  I 
in  the 
almost 

their 
onsult  I 
>me  or 

that 
Id  aot 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSO^r. 


er 


1^ 


But  before  I  go  any  farther,  I  would  take 
leave  to  mention  a  few  remarkable  passages 
of  Providence,  which  I  took  special  notice  of 
in  my  afflicted  time. 

1.  Of  the  fair  opportunity  lost  in  the  long 
march,  a  little  after  the  Fort  fight,  when  our 
English  army  was  so  numerous,  and  in  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy,  and  so  near  as  to  overtake 
several  and  destroy  them  ;  and  the  enemy  in 
such  distress  for  food,  that  our  men  might 
track  them  by  their  rooting  in  the  earth  for 
ground  nuts,  whilst  they  were  flying  for  their 
lives  ;  I  say  that  then  our  army  should  want 
provision,  and  be  forced  to  leave  their  pur- 
suit, and  return  homeward,  and  the  very 
next  week  the  enemy  came  upon  our  town, 
like  bears  bereft  of  their  wh  Ips,  or  so  many 
ravenous  wolves,  rending  us  and  our  lambs 
to  death.  But  what  shall  I  say  ?  God  seem- 
ed to  leave  his  people  to  themselves,  and  or- 
dered all  things  for  his  own  holy  ends.  Shall 
there  be  evil  in  the  city  and  the  Lord  hath  not 
done  it  ?  They  are  not  grieved  for  the  affliction^- 
of  Joseph^  therefore  they  shall  go  captive^ 
xvlth  the  first  that  go  captive*  ft  is  the  L  ord's 
doings  and  it  should  be  marvclicus  in  our  /v^.^    • 

2,'  i  cannot  but  remember,  how  the  In- 
dians derided  the  slowness  and  dulness  oitlv: 
English  army  in  its  setting  out.  For  after 
the  desolations  at  Lancaster  and  Medfield,  a^^ 
I  went  along  with  them,  they  asked  me  when 
I  thought  the  English  army  would  come  af- 
ter  them  ?  1  told  them  I  could  not  tell.    It 


1; 


''■'"^h 


<  '4 


■II 


'I 


ill 


1; 


yi 


¥ 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


i 


ii!.  : 


!'!#• 


3Tiay  be  they  may  come  in  May,  said  they. 
Thus  did  they  scoff  at  us,  as  if  the  English 
would  be  a  quarter  of  a  year  getting  ready. 

3.  Which  also  I  have  hinted  before,  when 
the  English  army  with  new  supplies  were 
sent  forth  to  pursue  after  the  enemy,  and 
they  understanding  it,  fled  before  them  till 
they  came  to  Baquaug  river,  where  they 
forthwith  went  over  safely ;  that,  that  river 
should  be  impassable  to  the  English.  1  can 
but  admire  to  see  the  wonderful  providence 
of  God  in  preserving  the  heathen  for  farther 
aiHiction  to  our  poor  country.  They  could 
go  in  great  numbers  over,  but  the  English 
must  stop  :  God  had  an  overruling  hand  in 
all  those  things.  •  -      - 

4.  It  was  thought,  if  their  corn  were  cut 
down,  they  would  starve  and  die  with  hun- 
ger ;  and  all  that  could  be  found,  was  de- 
stroyed, and  they  driven  from  that  little 
they  had  in  store,  into  the  woods,  in  the 
midst  of  winter  ;  and  yet  how  to  admiration 
did  the  Lord  preserve  them  for  his  holy 
ends,  and  the  destruction  of  many  still  a- 
mong  the  English  !  strangely  did  the  Lord 
provide  for  them,  that  i  did  not  see  (all  the 
time  I  v/as  among  them)  one  man,  woman 
or  child  die  with  hunger.  Though  many 
times  they  would  e;4t  that  that  a  hog  or  a 
dog  would  hardly  touch  ;  yet  by  that  God 

trcr-ihened  them  to  be  a  scourge   to  his 


s*- 


people, 


•.*<*■»•* 


E 

they, 
iglish 

eady. 
when 

werve 
',  and 
m  till 

they 
river 
1  can 
Jence 
rther 
could 
iglish 
id  in 

e  cut 
hun- 
5  de- 
little 
I  the 
ition 
holy 
ill  a. 
^ord 

the 
man 
lany 
or  a  '. 
:>od 

his 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


69 


Their  chief  and  conaraonest  food  was 
ground  nuts  ;  they  cat  also  nuts,  and  acorns, 
hartychoaks,  lilly  roots,  ground  beans,  and 
several  otherweeds  and  roots,  that  Iknow  not. 

They  would  pick  up  old  bones,  and  cut 
them  in  pieces  at  the  johits,  and  if  they  were 
full  of  worms  and  n:aggots,  they  would 
scald  them  over  the  fire,  to  make  the  vermine 
come  out,  and  then  boil  them,  and  drink  up 
the  liquor,  and  then  beat  the  great  ends  of 
them  in  a  morter,  and  so  eat  then.  They 
would  eat  horses  guts,  and  ears,  and  all  sorts 
of  wild  birds  which  they  could  catch  :  Also, 
bear,  venison,  beavers,  tortois,  frogs,  squir- 
rels, dogs,  skunks  and  rattlesnakes :  Yca,tlie 
very  bark  of  trees;  besides  all  sorts  of  crca-^ 
tures,  and  provision  which  they  plundered 
from  the  English,  I  can  but  stand  in  admi- 
ration to  see  the  wonderful  power  of  God, 
in  providing  for  such  a  vast  number  of  our 
enemies  in  the  v/ilderness,  where  there  was 
nothing:  to  be  seen,  but  from  hand  to  mouth, 
Many  times  in  a  morning,  the  generality  of 
them,  would  eat  up  all  they  had,  and  yet 
have  some  further  supply  against  they  want- 
ed. It  is  said,  PsaL  8i.  IJ,  14.  C/j  that  my 
people  had  hearkened  to  tho^  and  Israel  had  walk- 
ed in  my  ways  ;  I  should  soon  have  subdued  their 
enemies^  and  turned  my  hand  ag<iimt  their  adver 
saries.  But  now  our  perverse  and  evil  car- 
riages in  the  bight  t  f  the  Lord,  have  so  of- 
fended him^  that  instead  of  lurnir'g  IC.^  h,)nd 


'  ill 

t 


II 


1 1 

'i    ' 


m 


\4 


i'  1 

H 


hi  t 


[Ki 


TO         CAPTl'^lTY  AND  DELIVER  VxVCE 

against  them,  the  Lord  feeds  and  nourishes 
them  up  to  be  a  scourge  to  the  whole  land. 
5.  Another  thing  that  I  would  observe  is, 
the  strange   providence  of  God  in  turning 
things  about  when  the  Indians  were  at  the 
highest,  and  the  English   at  the  lowest.     I 
was  with  the  enemy  eleven  weeks  and  ,five 
days,  and  not  one  week  passed  without  their 
iury>  and  some  desolation  by  fire  and  sword 
upon  one  place  or  other.     They    mourned 
for  their  own  losses,  yet  triumphed  and  re- 
joiced in  their  inhumane  and  devilish  cruelty 
to  the  English.     They  would  boast  much  of 
their  victories  ;  saying,    that  in  two  hours 
time,  they  had  destroyed  such  a  captain,  and 
his   company  in   such  a  place  ;  and  such  a 
captain  and  his  company  in    such  a  place  : 
And  boast  how  many  towns  they  had  des- 
troyed, and   then   scoff,  and  say,  they  had 
done   then  a  good  turn,  to  send  them  to 
Heaven  so   soon.     Again,  they  would  say, 
this  Summer  they  would  knock  all  the  rogues 
on  the  head  or  drive  them  into  the  sea,  or 
make  them  flee  the  country  ;  thinking  sure- 
ly, Agag  Uke,  the  bitterness  of  death  is  past. 
Now  the  heathea  begin  to  think  all  is  their 
own  ;    and  the   poor    christians   hopes  to 
fail,  (as  to  man)  and  now  their  eyes  are  more 
to  God,  and  their  hearts  sigh   Heavenward, 
and  to  say  in  good  earnest,  He/p  Lord  or  we 
perish.     When   the   Lord   had  brought   his 
people  to  this,  that  they  saw  no  help  in  any 
thing  but  himself,  then  he  takes  the  quarrel 


'A 


^ 


Of  MVUY  ROWI.AXDSOX. 


r\ 


rishes 
land.^ 
rve  is, 
irning 
at  the 
^st.  I 
d  ,five 
I  their 
sword 
)urned 
nd  re- 
crueltv 
uch  of 
hours 
n,  and 
such  a 
place  : 
id  des- 
2y  had 
[lem  to 
Id  say, 
rogues 
sea,  or 
g  suro 
is  past» 
8  their 
pes  to 
e  more 
nward, 
d  or  we 
;ht  his 
in  any 
quarrel 


^L 


i'. 


( 


into  his  own  had  ;  and  though  they  had 
made  a  pit  (in  their  own  imaginations)  as 
deep  as  Hell  for  the  christians  that  summer, 
yet  the  Lord  hurled  themselves  into  it.  And 
the  Lord  had  not  so  many  ways  before  to 
preserve  them,  but  now  he  hath  as  many  to 
destroy  them. 

..  .But  to  return  again  to  my  going  home  ; 
where  we  may  see  a  remarkable  change  of 
providence :  At  first  they  were  all  against  it, 
except  my  husband  would  come  for  me  ;  but 
afterward  they  assented  to  it,  and  seemed  to 
rejoice  in  it :  Some  asking  me  to  send  them 
some  bread,  others  some  tobacco,  others 
shaking  me  by  the  hand,  oflering  me  a  hood 
and  scarf  to  ride  in  :  not  one  moving  hand 
or  tongue  against  it.  Ihus  hath  the  Lord 
answered  my  poor  desires,  and  the  many 
earnest  requcuts  of  others  put  up  unto  God 
for  me.  In  my  travels  an  Indian  came  to 
me,  and  told  me,  if  I  were  wiilin:.!;,  he  and  his 
Squaw  would  run  away,  and  go  home  aloiu^ 
w^ith  me.  1  told  them  no  ;  1  was  not  v/iiling 
to  run  away,  but  desired  to  wait  God's  tune, 
that  I  might  go  home  quietly,  and  without 
fear.  And  now  God  hath  granted  me  wy 
desire.  O  the  wonderful  power  ot  God  thdt 
I  have  seen,  and  the  experiences  that  I  have 
had  :  I  have  been  in  the  midst  of  those  roar- 
ing lions,  and  savage  bears,  that  feared  nei- 
ther God,  nor  man,  nor  the  devil,  by  night 
and  day,  alone  and  in  company  ;  sletpingall 
sorts  together,  and  yet  not  one  of  them  ever 


1 


7^. 


i^Vi:^ 


:mv 


wi1 


1    H 


73 


CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 


offered  the  least  abuse  of  unchastity  to  me.  In 
word  or  action.  Though  some  are  ready  to 
say,  I  speak  it  for  my  own  credit  ;  bur  I 
speak  it  in  the  presence  of  God  and  his  glo- 
ry. God's  power  is  as  great  now,  as  it  was 
to  save  Daniel  in  the  lions  den,  or  the  three 
children  in  the  fiery  furnace.  I  may  well  say 
as  he,  Pj^/.  170.  12.  Oh  give  thanks  unto  the 
Lord  for  he  is  good  ^  for  his  jnercy  endureth  for- 
ever. Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  say  so^  whom 
he  hath  redeemed  from  the  hand  of  the  enemy  :■ 
Especially  that  I  should  come  away  in  the 
midst  of  so  many  hundreds  of  enemies,  and 
not  a  dog  move  his  tongue.  So  I  took  my 
leave  of  them,  and  in  coming  along,  my  heart 
melted  into  tears  more  than  all  the  while  I 
Was  with  them,  and  I  was  almost  swallowed 
up  with  th€  thoughts  that  ever  I  should  go 
homeagain.  About  the  suns  going  down,  Mr. 
Hoar,  myself,  and  the  two  Indians,  came  to 
Lancastor,  and  a  solemn  sight  it  was  to  me. 
There  had  I  lived  many  comfortable  years  a» 
mong  my  relations  and  neighbors ;  and  now 
not  one  christian  to  be  seen,  nor  one  house 
left  standing.  We  went  on  to  a  farm  house 
that  was  yet  standing  where  we  lay  all  night ; 
and  a  comfortable  lodging  we  had,  though 
iiothing  but  straw  to  lye  on.  1  he  Lord  pre- 
served us  in  safety  that  night,  and  raised  us 
up  again  in  the  morning,  and  carried  us  a- 
!ong,  that  before  noon  we  caine  to  Concord. 
Now  was  I  full  of  joy,  and  yet  not  without 
sorrow  :  Joy,  to  see  such  a.  lovely  sight,  so 


T 


«iv 


e:  ■ 

ne,  in 
dy  to 
bur  I 
sglo. 
It  was 
three 
11  say 
jio  the 
h  for- 
whom 
teviy  :■ 
n  the 
5,  and 
c  my 
heart 
^hile  I 
lowed 
ild  go 
i,Mr. 
me  to 
)  me. 
ars  a» 
I  now 
house 
house 
light;  .; 
lough 
d  pre- 
;ed  us 
us   a- 
icord.  f 
thout 
t,  so 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDS  ON. 


many  christians  together,  and  soine  of  them 
my  neighbors :  There  I  met  with  my  broth- 
er, and  my  brother  in  law,  who  asked  me  if  , 
I  knew  where  Lis  wife  was  ?  poor  heart  ! 
he  had  helped  to  bury  her,  and  knew  it  not  : 
She  being  shot  down  by  the  house,  was  partly 
burnt,  so  that  those  who  were  at  Boston  at 
the  desolation  of  the  town,  and  came  back 
afterwards  and  buried  the  dead,  did  not  know 
her.  Yet  I  was  not  without  sorrow,  to 
think  how  many  were  looking  and  longing,  . 
and  my  own  children  among  the  rest,  to 
enjoy  that  deliverance  that  I  had  now  re- 
ceived \  and  I  did  not  know  whether  ever  I 
should  see  tlicm  again.  Being  recruited 
with  food  and  raiment,  \vt  went  to  Bi)Ston 
that  day  ;  where  I  met  with  my  husband, 
but  the  thoil'vrhts  of  our  dear  children,  one  ■ 
being  dead,  aud  the  other  we  could  nut  tell 
where,  abated  our  comfort  each  in  other.  I 
was  not  before  so  much  hemed  in  by  the 
merciless  and  cruel  heathen,  but  now  as  much 
with  pitiful,  tender  hearted  and  coinpassion- 
ate  christians.  In  that  poor  and  beggarly 
condition,  I  was  received  in,  I  was  kindly  ^ 
entertained  in  several  houses :  So  much  love 
I  received  from  several,  (many  of  whom  I 
knew  not)  that  I  am  not  capable  to  declare  i^. 
But  the  Lord  knows  them  all  by  namei 
The  Lord  reward  them  seven  fold  into  their 
bosoms  of  his  spirituals,  for  their  temporals. 
The  twenty  poundc,  the  price  of  my  redcmp- 

some  Boston  srenilewom* 


by 


i 

'A 
'11 


,1 


:» 


fc' 


I 


11 


■*■ 


•^ 


74        CAPTIVITY  AND  DELIVERANCE 

cn,  and  M.  Usher,  whose  bounty  and  chari- 
ty, I  would  not  forget  to  nn.ike  mention  of. 
Then  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  of  Charlstown 
received  us  into  his  house,  where  we  contin- 
ued  eleven  weeks  ;  and  a  father  and  mother 
they  were  unto  us.  And  many  more  tender 
hearted  friends  wc  met  with  in  that  place. 
We  were  now  in  the  midst  of  love,  yet  not 
without  much  and  frequent  *  heaviness  of 
heart,  for  our  poor  children,  and  other  rela- 
tions, who  wxre  still  in  affliction.  The 
week  following,  after  my  coming  in,  the 
Governor  and  counsel  sent  to  the  Indians  a* 
g?,in,and  that  not  without  success  ;  for  they 
brought  in  my  sister  and  good  wife  Kettle. 
Their  not  knowing  where  our  children  were, 
was  a  sore  trial  to  us  still  ;  and  yet  we  were 
not  without  secret  hopes  of  seeing  them  a- 
gain.  1  hat  which  was  dead  lay  heavier  up- 
on my  spirit,  than  those  which  were  alive  a- 
mcng  the  heathen  ;  thinking  how  it  suffered 
with  its  wounds,  and  I  was  not  able  to  re- 
lieve it  ;  and  how  it  was  buried  by  the  hea- 
then  in  the  wilderness  from  among  all  chris- 
tians. We  were  hurried  up  and  down  in 
our  thoughts,  sometimes  we  should  hear  a 
report  that  they  were  gone  this  way,  and 
sometimes  that ;  and  that  they  were  come  in, 
IM  this  place  or  that.  We  kept  inquiring  to 
hear  concerning  them,  but  no  certain  news  as 
yet.  About  this  time  the  council  had  order- 
ed a  day  of  publick  Thanksgiving,  thought 
thought  I  had  still  cause  of  mourning ;  being 


:e 

1  chari- 
tion  of. 
•IstowQ 
contin- 
mother 

tender 
t  place, 
yet  not 
less  of 
er  rela- 
.  The 
in,  the 
dians  a* 
br  they 

Kettle, 
n  were, 
ive  were 
them  a- 
vier  up- 
alive  a- 
suffered 
e  to  re- 
thi  hea- 
,11  chris- 
lown  in 

hear  a 
ay,  and 
ome  in, 
irino:  to 
news  as 
i  order- 
hought' 
;  being 


Of  MARY  ROWLANDSON. 


75 


unsettled  in  our  minds  we  thought  we  would 
ride  eastward,  to  see  if  we  could  hear  any 
thing  concerning  our  children.  As  we  ^ere 
riding  along  between  Ipswich  and  Rawly,  we 
met  with  William  Hubbard,  who  told  us  our  . 
son  Joseph,  and  my  sisters  son,  were  come  in 
to  Major  Waldren's :  I  asked  him  how  he 
knew  it  ?  he  said  the  Major  himself  told  him 
so.-  So  along  we  went  till  we  came  to  New- 
bury ;  and  their  minister  being  absent,  they 
desired  my  husband  to  preach  the  Thanksgiv-^ 
ing  for  them ;  but  he  was  not  willing  to  stay 
there  that  night,  but  would  go  over  to  Salis* 
bury,  to  hear  farther,  and  come  again  in  the 
morning,  which  he  did,  and  preached  there 
that  day. 

At  night,  when  we  had  done,  one  came 
and  told  him  that  his  daughter  was  come  in 
at  Providence  :  Here  was  mercy  on  both 
hands.  Now  hath  God  fulfilled  that  precious 
scripture,  which  was  such  a  comfort  to  me  in 
my  distressed  condition.  When  my  heart 
was  ready  to  sink  into  the  earth,  and  my 
knees  trembling  urder  me,  and  I  was  walking 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  :  Then 
the  Lord  brought, and  his  now  fulfiked  that: 
reviving  word  unt()  me.  Thus  saith  the  Lord^ 
refrain  thy  voice  from  weepings  and  thy  eyes  from 
tears ^  for  thy  work  i^hall  be  rewarded^  saith  the 
Lord,  and  they  shall  come  again  from  the  land  of 
the  enems*  Now  we  were  between  them,  tie 
one  on  the  hasi,  3 ad  ilic  other  on  the  West ; 
our  son  being  neaic^t,  we  went  to  him  first. 


: 


1 


) 


^. 


^'  n 


){ ]'  ^ 


I  irj 


76        CAPTIVITY  AKD  DELIVERANCE 

to  Portsmouth,  where  we  met  with  him,  and 
with  the  Majoralso;  who  told  us,he  had  done 
what  he  could,  but  could  not  redeem  him  un- 
der Seven  pounds,  which  the  good  people 
thereabouts  wtrc  pleased  to  pay.  The  Lord 
reward  the  Major,  and  all  the  rest,  though 
unknown  to  me,  for  their  labor  of  love.  My 
sisters  son  w:;:  ledeemed  for  four  pounds 
which  the  council  gave  orders  for  the  pay- 
ment of.  Having  now  received  one  of  our 
children,  we  hastened  toward  the  other  :  go- 
ing back  through  Newbury,  my  husband 
preached  there  on  the  sabbath  day,  for  which 
they  rewarded  him  manifold.  - 

-  On  Monday  we  came  to  Charlstown,  where 
we  heard  that  the  governor  of  Khodeisland 
had  sent  over  for  our  daughter,  to  take  care 
of  her,  being  now  within  his  jurisdiction  ; 
which  should  not  pass  without  our  acknowU 
edgments.  But  she  being  nearer  Rehoboth 
than  Rhodeislind,  Mr.  Newman  went  ever 
and  took  care  of  her,  and  brought  her  to  his 
own  house.  And  the  goodness  of  God  was 
admirable  to  us  in  our  low  estate,  in  that  he 
raised  up  passionate  friends  on  every  side, 
when  v/e^had  nothing  to  reiompence  any  tor 
their  love.  Ihe  Indians  were  now  gone  that 
way,  thac  it  was  apprehended  dangerous  to 
go  10  h  r  ;  but  the  carts  which  carried  pro« 
vision  '  the  English  army,  being  guarded, 
brou<^:Ht  her  wivh  them  to  Dorchester,  whi^rc^ 
we  i:.'xvcd  her  safe  ;  blessed  be  the  Lor'S'h.r 
it,  tor  great  is  his  power,  and  he  can  do  what- 


II 


i[ 


iK'  'i' 


n,  and 
id  done 
lini  un- 
people 
e  Lord 
though 
J.  My 
Dounds 
le  pay- 
of  our 
er  :  go- 
usband 
which 

,where 
eisland 
e  care 
ction  ; 
tcnowl- 
lobotli 
t  ever 
to  his 
^d  was 
:iat  he 
side, 
ny  for 
\e  that 

3US   to 

d  pro» 
arded, 
where 
>r^ri>r 
what- 


Or  MARY  ROWLANDSOM. 


7r 


1.  f^ 


][ 


soever  seemeth  hirn  good.  Her  coming  in^ 
was  afterthis  manner  :  She  was  ti  levelling  one 
""day  with  the  Indians,  with  her  basket  at  her 
back ;  the  company  of  Indians  were  got  be* 
fore  her,  and  gone  out  of  sight,  all  except 
One  Squaw  :  She  followed  the  Squaw  till 
night,  and  then  both  of  them  lay  down,  hav- 
ing nothing  over  them  but  the  heavens,  nor 
under  them  but  the  earth.  Thus  she  travel- 
led three  days  together,  having  nothing  to  eat 
or  drink  but  water  and  green  Hirtle  berries. 
At  last  they  came  into  Providence,  where  she 
was  kindly  entertained  by  several  of  that 
town.  The  Indians  often  said,  tliat  1  should 
never  have  her  under  twenty  pounds,  but 
now  the  Lord  hath  brought  her  in  upon  free 
cost,  and  given  her  to  mc  the  second  time. 
The  Lord  make  us  a  blessinp;  indeed,  each  to 
others.  Now  have  I  seen  that  scripture  also, 
fulfilled,  Deut  30.  4,  7.  Jf  any  of  thine  te  driven 
out  to  the  utmost  parts  of  Heaven^  from  thence 
will  the  Lord  thy  God  gather  thec^  ondfrom 
thence  will  I  fetch  thee.  Ar  d  the  Lord  thy  God 
will  put  all  these  curses  upon  thine  enemies,  and 
on  them  which  hate  thee^  which  persecuted  thee. 
Thus  hath  the  Lord  brought  me  and  mire 
out  of  that  horrible  pit,  ar.d  hath  set  us  iii 
the  midst  of  tender  hearted  and  compassion, 
ate  christians.  This  is  the  desire  of  my  soul, 
that  we  may  walk  worthy  of  the  mercies  re- 
ceiijfed,  and  which  we  are  receiving. 

Our  family  being  now  gathered  together, 
the  south  church  in  Boston  hired  a  house  hi 

R 


m  1  = 


ii. 


7*.       CAPTIVITY  AN»  DELIVERANCE^.^   ' 

U5  :  then  we  removed  from  Mr.  Shcpard's* 
(those  cordial  friends)  and  went  to  Boston, 
where  we  continued  about  three  quarters  o£ 
a. year  :  Still  the  Lord  went   along  with  us^ 
and  provided  graciously  for  us.     I  thought, 
it  some  what  stiange  to  set  up  hpi^se  keepings 
with  bare  walls,  but  as  Solomon  says,  Money: 
answers mU  ihbigj  :  And  that  we  had  through 
the  benevolencc.of  christian  friends,,  some  in^ 
this   town,   and  some  in  that,   and  others  ;, 
and  some  from  England,  that  in  a  little  time, 
we  might  look  and  see  the  house  furnished, 
with  love.     The  Lord  hath  been  exceeding; 
good  to  us  in  our  low  estate,  in  that  when 
we.  had   neither  house  nor  home,  nor  other 
necessaries,  the  Lord  so  moved  the  hearts  of . 
these  and  those  towards  us,  that  we  wanted 
neither  food  nor  raiment  for   ourselves  or 
ours,  Pa'ov.   18.  24.    Tbere  is  a  friend  that 
stuketh  closer  than  a  brother >.    And iiow  many 
such  friends  have  we  found,  and  now  living 
amongst!  andtruely  such  a  friend  have,  we 
found  him  to  be  unto  us,  in  whose  house  we 
lived,  viz.  Mr.  James  Whitcomb,.  a  friend 
nearhandj  and  afar  off.. 

I  can  remember  the  time,  when  I  used  to 
sleep  quic.ly  without  workings  in  my 
thoughts,  whole  nights  together  ;  but  now 
it  is  atherwise  with  me.  When  all  are  fast 
about  me,  and  no  eye  open,  but  his  who  ever 
waketh,  my  thoughts  are  upon  things  past,., 
upon  the  awful  dispensation  of  the  Lord  to- 
wards us;  upon  his  wonderful  power  and 
might  in  carrying  of  us  thrpugh  in  man\v 


T^. 


[M. 


.     Of  MARr  ROWLA  NDSON. 


rr 


* 


difficulties,  in  returning  us  in  safety,  and  sut 
faring  none  to  hurt  us.  I  rememl>vr  in  the 
night  season  how  the  other  day  I  was  in  the 
midst  of  thousands  of  enemies,  and  nothing 
but  death  before  me  :  It  was  th<jn  hard  work 
to  persuade  myself^  that  ever  !  should  be  sat^ 
isfied  with  bread  again.  But  now  we  are  feci 
with  the  finest  of  the  wheat,  and  (as  1  may 
say)  with  honey  out  of  the  rock  :  histead  of 
the  husks,  we  had  fatuJ  calf:  The  thoughts 
of  these  things  in  the  particulars  of  them,  and 
of  the  love  and  goodness  of  God  towards  us> 
make  it  true  of  me,  what  David  said  of  him- 
self, Psal*  G.  (3.  /  7ua/er  my  couch  with  my  tears* 
Oh  the  wonderful  power  of  God  that  mine 
eyes  have  seen,  affording  matter  enough  for 
my  thoughts  to  run  in,  that  when  others  are 
sleeping  mine  eyes  are  weeping.       -. 

I  have  seen  the  extreme  vanity  of  this- 
world  :  One  hour  I  have  been  in  health,  and 
wealth,  wanting  nothing,  but  the  next  hour 
in  sickness,  and  wounds,  and  death,  having 
nothing  but  sorrow  and  affliction.  Before  I 
knew  what  affliction  meant,  1  was  ready  some^ 
times  to  wish  for  it.  When  I  lived  in  pros-^ 
perity,  having  the  comforts  of  this  world  ^ 
bout  me,^  my  relations  come,  aiid  niy  he^ 
cheerful,  and  taking  little  care  for  any  thing ;. 
and  yet  seeing  many  who  preferred  before 
myself  under  many  trials  and  afflictions^  ia 
sickness,  weakness,  poverty,  losses,  crosses,  ^ 
and  cares  of  the  world,  I  should  be  sometimes^^ 
jealous  lest  I  should  have  my  portion  of  this^ 
life  \  and  that  scripture  would  come  to  my 


%%'m 


m 

hi 


'm 


'4  ^ 


i 


i 


!.■■ 


l>    .,  I 


;:„( 


r 

I 


f'.   *"  ' 


f? 


'X  ■ 


rIC 


,.•* 


,■:*  '■■- 


dp      CAPTIVItY  AND  DfililVERANCE,  kc^, 

/  Ifliild,  Heb.  12,  6.  For  wA^w  the  Lord  loveib 
he  chasieneth^  and  scour  get  h  every  son  whom  be 
receiveth.  But  now  1  see  the  Lord  had  his 
time  to  scourge  and  chasten  me.  The  por- 
tion of  some  is  to  have  their  affliction  by 
<|rbps  but  the  wine  of  astonishment,  like  a 
sweeping  rain,  that  leaveth  no  food,  did  the 
Lord  prep2ire  to  be  my  portion*  Affliction  I 
wanted,  and  affliction  1  had,  full  measure, 
pressed  down  and  running  over  :  Yet  I  see 
when  God  calls  a  person  to  ever  so  many  dif- 

;  ficulties,  yet  he  is  able  to  carry  them  through^ 
and  make  them  say,  they  have  been  gainers 
thereby.  And  I  hope  I  can  say  in  some 
measure,  as  Davids  It  is  good  for  me  thai  I  have 
been  afflicted.  The  Lord  hath  shewed  me  the 
vanity  of  these  outward  thir/gs  ;  that  they 
are  the  vanity  of  vanities,  and  vexation  of 
spirit :  That  they  are  but  a  shadow,  a  blast, 
a  bubb'e,  and  things  of  no  continuance.  If 
twfoubic  from  smaller  iiiatters  begin  to  arise  in 
me,  I  tiuve  something  at  h^iiid  to  tjStecfe:  v^m 
scif  vdth,  and  say,  why  am  I  troubledMt 
was  Du  the  ocher  day,  that  if  I  had  had  the 
world,  I  \v(  uld  have  given  it  for  my  freedom,, 
oar  to  hjiv  leen  a  serventto  a  christian.  I 
have  learned  to  look  beyond  present  and* 
smaller  troubles,  and  to  be  quieted  under* 
them  as  Moses  said,  Exod-  1 4.  13f  Stand  still 
cmdsse  the  salvation  of  the  L.rd,. 


THE  END. 


^^■'tMH^^'. 


rC£,  Sec.-. 


^rd  loveih 
wh  0711  be 
\  had  his 
The  por- 
iction  by 
It,  like  a 
I,  did  the 
ffliction  I; 
measure. 
Yet  I  see 
nany  dif- 
throughj 
gainers 
in  some 
^at  I  have 
i  nie  the 
bat  they 
iiation  of 
»  a  blast, 
mce.     If 
>  arise  in 


e( 

^ledFIt 
had  the 
reedom,. 
►tian.  I 
.ent  and 
I  under 
\and  still 


■ 


